Father accused of toddler’s killing denied bail

A FATHER charged with kidnapping and murder after his 2-year-old daughter’s decomposing body was found stuffed inside the ceiling of his house will remain in custody during his trial.

The Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court denied Mokete Legodi, 47, bail and postponed the matter to October 27 for further investigation, said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson for the North West Division Henry Mamothame.

In opposing bail, prosecutor Riekie Kriel said the State would seek the maximum sentence – life – and there was the possibility that the father may flee and interfere with witnesses.

Legodi’s appearance comes after the lifeless body of a toddler was discovered inside the ceiling of his residential home in Alabama, near Klerksdorp. Legodi was charged with the kidnapping and murder of the child.

It is alleged that on May 13, Legodi went to his girlfriend’s Jouberton home and took their daughter without her mother’s consent. The mother was in hospital at the time.

Family members who were taking care of the child assumed he would bring the child back, as he usually did. When he did not and they enquired about the child’s whereabouts, the man denied that he had taken her.

The mother was discharged from hospital the following day and went in search for the toddler. Family members assisted in the search, but could not find her. The following day, she went to Jouberton police station where a missing person’s case was opened.

Further investigations by police led to Legodi’s arrest two days later.

The police investigation continued, and a day after Legodi’s arrest for kidnapping, the child’s body was discovered by members of the community. This was after they followed up on a bad smell coming from Legodi’s house.

Neighbours discovered the lifeless and decomposing body of the child hidden inside the ceiling. Police were called and a murder charge was added.

It is claimed that the man went to his girlfriend’s home while she was in hospital and took the child, who was playing outside, without telling anyone. When the grandmother, who was taking care of the child at the time, did not see her, she assumed that the father had taken her.

Legodi, however, denied that he had seen the child.