Pretoria - A man accused of assaulting his girlfriend's two-year-old daughter is a violent individual, the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court heard on Friday.
Prosecutor Tania Carstens read statements by the accused’s relatives describing his violent nature.
The court heard his mother sought a protection order against him for being “very cheeky and always back chatting” and said things became better when he moved out.
“My brother is a very aggressive person. Even in his past relationships he used to assault his girlfriend,” his sister said in a statement.
She said he had told her he would run as he was not prepared to go to jail.
“(The accused) came to my house and said he was planning to run away because (the co-accused's) family had turned against him,” the court heard.
Both he and the baby’s mom face charges of assault and attempted murder.
During their bail application it emerged that he had a case of common assault pending against him. His lawyer SD Nel told the court his client could afford bail of R10 000. He did not know where his passport was, and had no intention of leaving the country, Nel said.
The toddler is recovering from her injuries at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, in Pretoria.
The two were arrested after a doctor at the hospital contacted the police after treating the child. She had broken ribs, a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, a punctured pancreas and kidney, severe bruising all over her body, and suspected brain damage. - Sapa