Killer foster mother jailed for 30 years

THE foster mother who killed a ninemonth-old child in her care was yesterday sentenced in the Western Cape High Court to 30 years in prison.

The grandfather of little Caswell Joseph Frans said yesterday he hoped the case was an “eye opener” to the community after the judge sentenced 39-year-old Priscilla Morris of Capricorn, near Fish Hoek.

Speaking outside the Western Cape High Court, Pastor Caswell Frans said it broke his heart to hear what Morris had done to his grandson.

He said they were “grateful” for the plea and sentence hearing, because it answered all their questions.

Morris was yesterday sentenced after signing a plea deal with the State.

She pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse, neglect, murder and defeating the administration of justice.

As part of the plea and sentence agreement, Judge Constance Nziweni further made an order that Morris be banned from caring for children by declaring her “unfit to work with children”, and that her name be placed on the National Child Protection Register.

After sentencing Morris, Judge Nziweni then turned her attention to the gallery filled with Vrygrond community members, calling for vigilance when witnessing abuse of children.

“What happened to Caswell, no child should ever go through,” the judge said.

Morris admitted that she killed little Caswell out of frustration, and lied to the social worker about her medical history and her use of prescribed anti-depressants.

According to the plea agreement, Morris viewed Caswell as a difficult and naughty baby.

Morris admitted that she would hit the baby regularly while he was in her care between April and December 2021, failing to communicate her struggles to his family, despite their willingness to help her care for the baby.

The shocking details of what led to Caswell’s murder were yesterday relayed to the court.

Her defence lawyer said on December 17, 2021, as Morris set off to collect her social grant payment from the grocery store, little Caswell started crying. She then asked her sister, Chante Morris, to look after the baby, but when Chante refused, Morris became agitated. “She got upset with them, grabbed the deceased (Caswell) from the bed and threw him on the floor. The crying of the deceased persisted, and she became enraged. The accused took the deceased and again threw him twice on the floor. She grabbed the deceased around his neck until he stopped crying,” her lawyer said.

She placed the infant’s remains in plastic bags and a backpack and carried his body to an open field with three adult family members. When they arrived at the field, she instructed them to leave, while Chante remained behind watching her bury him.

She was arrested on December 20, 2021, after her sister reported her to the police.