Cape Town - The woman who murdered three-year-old Lache Stols will remain behind bars until December 6 when sentencing proceedings commence.
The Western Cape High Court found Anthea Kleynhans guilty of the toddler's murder.
Little Lache died on January 23, 2012, after a sustained beating at the hands of Kleynhans, the girlfriend of Lache's dad, Angelo, at the time.
Lache Stols, 3, with her birth mother Lara Boer. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/ANA Pictures
As Judge Nolwazi Boqwana read out her judgment, finding Kleynhans guilty of murder, saying the State had proved that Kleynhans intended to kill in the form of dolus eventualis which means she was able to foresee a possibility of death due to her actions.
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Kleynhans was overwhelmed with emotion and kept sobbing as the judge made reference to Lache’s post mortem reports, especially the toddler’s injuries.
Anthea Kleynhans in the dock. Picture: David Ritchie/ANA Pictures
The toddler was repeatedly assaulted and suffered blunt force trauma as a result of Kleynhans beating the toddler with her hand and assaulting her with implements.
Anthea Kleynhans greets family members before being led to the cells. Video: Zodidi Dano/Cape Argus
Kleynhans had said she had been drinking on the day of the beating, but had sobered up by the end of it. She did not remember every blow she had delivered to the child.
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One of the scenes outside the Western Cape High Court. Picture: David Ritchie/ANA Pictures
"If she remembers unequivocally that she used a belt she would remember the other falls. The blows are conveniently forgotten, in my opinion, by the accused as it showed her viciousness," Boqwana said.
Anthea Kleynhans in the dock. Picture: David Ritchie/ANA Pictures
"She did not have concern for the deceased; didn’t think about her health. She knew she could beat the deceased to death, but thought it would not happen to her. She never beat her own children this severely."