A correctional supervision sentence would be too lenient for a man convicted of assaulting his son, the Johannesburg Regional Court heard on Monday.
Correctional services officer Themba Mjonondwane said considering the nature of Bradley Connor's crime, such a sentence would be too lenient.
“I find it difficult to put my head on the block and say he qualifies (for a community-based sentence),” he told the court.
On November 21, 2011 Connor and his ex-girlfriend Malinda Marshall were found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. They abused their son Michael, leaving him brain damaged, blind, and immobile. He had to be fed with a tube and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The abuse started when he was three-months old. He died aged six, on October 16, 2011. The two were 18 years old when they had him.
Mjonondwane said the community would also not understand if Connor was given a correctional supervision sentence.
“In my opinion, they (people) think justice is sending people to prison,” he said.
Connor's lawyer said his client was now married, and had matured. He said Connor was young at the time of the abuse inflicted on Michael.
Marshall's lawyer argued her client had remarried and had had two more children. She was also three months pregnant with a third.
Sentencing was adjourned to next Friday. – Sapa