Cape Town – The grieving mother of six-month-old Zahnia Woodward walked into the court on Tuesday, with pain etched on her face.
Cindy Woodward, of Ocean View, took one look at the 31-year-old suspect in the dock, then, true to her word, she lunged at him.
A court orderly and her mother, Jennifer, had to restrain Cindy from attacking her baby girl’s alleged shooter.
As she took her seat, the young mom burst into tears, and was consoled by Jennifer.
Court orderlies then warned Cindy, 20, that she would be removed if she did not remain quiet.
She couldn’t hold back the tears, and kept her head down as proceedings got under way.
Christopher September, from Hout Bay, has been arrested for the murder of baby Zahnia, and appeared in the Simon's Town Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
State prosecutor William Daniels confirmed the charges against September were murder and attempted murder, relating to the shooting of Zahnia, her father Bradley Robyn, and three others.
“The State will be opposing bail in this matter as it is a schedule 6 offence and request a postponement for bail information as discussed with the defence for 13 January,” Daniels said.
Magistrate Crystal McKenna agreed to this.
“The accused will remain in custody until 13 January and he will appear before this court for bail information,” she added.
On Friday, five men in a white VW Golf opened fire on Bradley and Zahnia as they waited outside his house for Cindy to arrive from work by bus.
Bradley’s three friends, who stood with them, were also wounded.
Zahnia, who was sitting on Bradley’s lap, was shot through the head.
It is believed the shooters' intended target was a suspected drug dealer who lives in the same street.
In a series of posts on Facebook, a heartbroken Cindy vowed she would not rest until all the people involved in her child’s murder are punished.
Speaking to the Daily Voice outside court on Tuesday, Cindy said: “I had to calm myself inside court, because he dared look me straight in the eye.
“There was no shame and no remorse that he is responsible for my Zahnia’s death.
“It makes me sick to have to see him at all, because I want to rip his heart out like he and his friends did to me,” the mom said.
Grandmother Jennifer shook her head in anger, and added: “I cannot describe how angry I am, I won’t even try. He is a monster and I hope they all get their day in court.
“God did not take Zahnia from us, they did.”
On Monday evening the community of Ocean View came out in their hundreds to join the family for a candlelight vigil at the spot next to Bradley’s house where Zahnia was killed.
People arrived with posters, soft toys and flowers and tears flowed as they remembered the bubbly little girl.
Cindy said: “I was surprised that so many people came to support us and the loss of my baby.
“She had her entire life to live out and she was the light of our lives.
“I am grateful for the support and can only say thank you to everyone who has been so supportive.”
Just a day before her child’s death, Cindy had had the name Zahnia, which means curious soul, tattooed on her shoulder.
Bradley, 24, who was discharged from False Bay Hospital on Tuesday after he was wounded in his side, was not ready to speak to the media.
His mother Thorina Robyn, 52, said her son was torn up and has asked for space as he tries to come to grips with the loss of his only child.
Thorina said she knows what her son is going through as her eldest son was also shot and killed.
She did not want to reveal more details of the murder.
“I know what Bradley is feeling and all I can do for my son is talk to him. I have no hatred, but those men took away my smiling face,” said Thorina.
Meanwhile, the family said funeral arrangements cannot go ahead as Cindy is still waiting for Salt River Mortuary to release Zahnia’s body.
Ward Councillor Patricia Francke called on the Ocean View community to work with police to bring the perpetrators to book.
“These acts of violence against our innocent children are just flaring up now,” she said.
“We can no longer sit still and watch as nothing is done to protect our children.”