Killer deserves death

I REFER to an article “sentencing delayed in baby-killer dad case” by Catherine Rice, African News Agency (Cape Times, August 9).

Eugene Plaatjies, a 25-year-old father, was convicted of child abuse and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

His daughter, three-month-old Anthonique, died at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital a day after she was admitted on June 13, 2014.

During the trial the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy testified that the infant had been “chronically abused”.

He also described the horrible injuries suffered by the baby, including extensive fractures of the skull caused by banging the baby’s head against the wall or kicking her in the head.

The other injuries as described by the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy are too horrible to repeat.

This person, and I hesitate calling him a person, is the devil incarnate; I have no other words to describe the pain and suffering he caused to his three-month-old daughter. If the death sentence was applicable to South Africa, it would be an appropriate sentence given to Plaatjies.

Plaatjies, who was warmly greeted and embraced by his family members, is beyond my understanding. Have they no grasp of how evil Plaatjies is?

Plaatjies, who seemed to bask in the media limelight before his April conviction, was visibly irritated by journalists attempting to photograph him.

This type of behaviour could only be attributed to a psychopath.