Cape Town - A pregnant mother of three has been beaten to death, allegedly by her partner.
The brutal assault, during which police say Melony Newman was kicked all over her body, left the 30-year-old brain dead.
The Valhalla Park woman was rushed to Tygerberg hospital on Monday afternoon. She died the next day.
Newman, who has a 10-year-old child from a previous relationship, was four months pregnant with her and her alleged killer’s third child.
The eldest child lives with Newman’s mother while the two-year-old and eight-year-old, who were fathered by the suspect, live with their older stepsister.
Newman’s mother, Dinah Newman, 58, said that one of her daughter’s friends came to tell her about the attack.
“They said she is lying in the road unconscious,” said Dinah.
“I went to the house and she was already taken to hospital. I saw her in hospital on Tuesday night. She was covered in pipes. It broke my heart to see her like that.”
Dinah said Newman’s doctor told the family her boyfriend had been by her bedside since she arrived at the hospital.
“He was in the ambulance with her as she was transported to hospital and then he stayed with her at the hospital.
“The doctor didn’t suspect that it could be him [who allegedly attacked her]. He left when he heard we were on our way to hospital,” said Dinah. “She never came out of her coma.”
Newman’s aunt, Jenine Ridder, 40, said all the bones in her niece’s face had been broken.
“She was on life support since she arrived at the hospital. Her mother did not want to switch off the machines.
“She died on her own on Tuesday. The doctor says she died as a result of her head injuries.”
Newman’s father, Frederick Newman, said his daughter and her boyfriend are former drug addicts.
“He always assaulted her but this time it was bad. What’s sad is that he did this to her while she is pregnant,” he said.
The family said no one has seen Newman’s boyfriend since she died.
Constable Noloyiso Rwexana said the suspect is still on the run.
“A case of murder is under investigation. According to the information the victim was assaulted by her boyfriend all over her body. No one has been arrested yet,” Rwexana said.
Daily Voice