Baby C’s injuries ‘exaggerated’, court told

The defence lawyer of the parents accused of abusing their infant has claimed that social workers exaggerated the child’s injuries.

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Johannesburg - The defence lawyer representing the parents accused of abusing their infant, leaving her disabled, is arguing that social workers exaggerated their reports on the baby’s injuries when removing her from their custody.

The parents, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the child, were charged with trying to shake the life out of baby Christina*, hanging her out of a window in their flat, suffocating her with a pillow and nearly drowning her in the bath.

The alleged abuse resulted in broken legs, ribs and a fracture in her skull, leaving her with vision problems (septo-optic dysplasia) from which she might never recover.

On Monday, Duduzile Buthelezi, an auxiliary social worker who helped take the child into protective custody, took the stand.

She and a colleague, Zandile Simelane, who both work at the Christian Social Council of Germiston, visited the couple’s home on September 18, 2013 when Christina was just over two months old.

Buthelezi testified that the pair were accompanied by one of the couple’s neighbours, who took them to the baby’s mother, June*. The mother allegedly told the pair that her partner, Theuns*, had threatened to throw the baby out of a window, and that the father would harshly shake Christina if she cried too long.

Simelane had corroborated Buthelezi’s testimony, saying she also noted Christina had a bruise-like mark on her temple.

June explained to the social workers that Christina had an eye infection, and when Theuns had held the baby’s head still to apply ointment, he had pushed too hard on her head, resulting in the mark.

It was after this consultation that Christina was taken to a place of safety. Her other injuries were discovered later.

Buthelezi was attacked by June’s lawyer, Nardus Grové, who said in her written report she had spoken of multiple bruises and how June had reportedly claimed the baby had been beaten.

He accused Buthelezi of exaggerating the extent of the injuries noted by the auxiliary social worker, and that she had selective memory of what June had told her that day.

He also presented a medical report suggesting a doctor who had seen Christina the day before she was seized had not noticed any other injuries besides the eye infection.

Last week, Grové implied the baby may have experienced her traumatic injuries in the custody of the social workers.

The trial was postponed to October 26.

* Not their real names.

** Comments have been closed to protect the identity of the minor or minors mentioned in the article.

shain.germaner@inl.co.za

The Star