Johannesburg - Ines Antonio’s daughter, 4, was also injured in the acid attack on her mother, the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court has heard.
On Wednesday, Antonio’s landlady, Carol Lock, testified that she was in the kitchen when she heard screams. She went to look over the wall to see what was going on.
Lock fetched the child from Antonio to start treating her.
“When I was taking off the child’s clothes, I got the shock of my life when I noticed the child had injuries on her arm,” she said. The child told her: “Daddy is hurting me and mommy.”
Jan Pieterse, 45, the alleged attacker, used various numbers from which to send threatening SMSes to Antonio, including those of family members. Antonio eventually blocked the numbers. Antonio had testified that one message said he was going to get men to rape and kill her.
They had an on-and-off abusive relationship for about three years when she decided to end it. He continued stalking her, threatening to kill her, verbally abusing and physically abusing her.
On Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty, saying he acted in self-defence after she had attacked him.
Antonio testified that the attack took place on November 4 last year while she was walking with their daughter to the shops.
She said he had stopped his car next to them and said he had a cellphone for their child. He grabbed the child and “threw” her into the back seat. While she was getting the child out, he opened the boot, took out a container and threw the contents at her.
While he was still on the run, he continued sending Antonio messages saying he was going to do the same to her boyfriend.
The defence asked magistrate Albertus Roux for time to gather evidence from his client, who is in custody.
The case was postponed to August 19 after a request by the accused for time to examine cellphone messages.
The Star