Cape Town – A 25-year-old father has told the Western Cape High Court that he was “heartbroken” over his daughter’s death and still could not believe she was gone.
Eugene Plaatjies took the stand to testify in mitigation of sentence on Wednesday and said that the injuries inflicted which led to the death of his baby daughter had been an accident.
Plaatjies was convicted of murder, child abuse and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm in April.
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His daughter, three-month-old Anthonique, died at Red Cross Children’s hospital, a day after she was admitted on June 13, 2014.
Acting Judge Nolita Kose said in her judgement that she found it “ very difficult to accept the version of the accused” and had no doubt that he “inflicted and consequently caused the death of the deceased”.
During the trial, the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy, testified that the infant had sustained multiple bruises, multiple fractures, severe closed head injuries, multiple skull fractures, a laceration of the liver, fractures of the ribs and a contusion of the lung. The baby had both fresh and old fractures and had been “chronically abused”.
The pathologist said the extensive fractures of the skull would have been caused by banging the baby’s head against the wall or kicking her in the head.
The Judge dismissed Plaatjie’s version that the baby had fallen off the bed and hit a bench.
The mother of the baby, 30-year-old Louise Alkaster, pleaded guilty to child neglect and was sentenced to a five-year suspended sentence at the start of the trial.
During the trial, she testified about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Plaatjies.
Plaatjies told the court on Wednesday that he still could not believe his daughter was gone.
Testifying in Afrikaans, he said it “feels like a dream”.
He also said he was sorry about the pain she had had to go through, but maintained it had been an accident.
He claimed he wanted to give her a better life.
State prosecutor Maria Marshall was unconvinced, however, and said the accused had shown no remorse.
The accused’s uncle and sister earlier also testified in mitigation of sentence.
His uncle Piet Cupido asked the court for leniency as the accused “has never been in trouble before”.
His sister Chante Plaatjies described him as a loving and trustworthy person, while his father, Hendrik Cupido, also told the court the accused was a good person.
Earlier on Wednesday, social worker Charlene Demas recommended that Plaatjies receive a sentence of direct imprisonment.
“Everyone has the right to life, and that is what he took away from his own child,” she said.
The case was postponed to June 15 for final arguments.
African News Agency