Port Elizabeth – A nine-year-old girl has given a tearful courtroom account of how she pleaded with her father not to stab her mother at their Motherwell home in Port Elizabeth in October 2013.
The girl, who allegedly watched her father stab his estranged wife to death, was under cross-examination in the Port Elizabeth High court on Thursday. She testified via a video link-up.
The state alleges that the 45-year-old father, who was employed as a technician at a municipality at the time, stabbed his estranged wife repeatedly on her upper body, head and back whilst their two children, a six-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy were present in their home.
Proceedings adjourned several times on as the child, who cannot be named as she is a minor, needed time to compose herself after becoming emotional or tired.
The state alleges that at the time of the incident both children were told to go to their rooms.
The girl told the court how she peeped out from behind her bedroom door to see the lounge area where her parents were arguing.
“I heard my father saying that he wants money from my mother..my father went into the kitchen, I came out of my room to peep, my father took out a knife and got back to my mother then I retreated,” she said.
“My father came out of the kitchen area and pulled my mother by her hair, my father then stabbed my mother, in the process my mother wanted to grab the knife. I said please give my mother a chance, she is going to give you your money. My father stabbed my mother,” she continued.
The girl then said she went straight to her brother’s room and asked him to sit with her.
The defence said that due to the girl’s emotional well-being she would not be cross-examined further.
Subsequently, her 14-year-old brother was called to the stand but the media and public were asked to leave and proceedings were held in camera.
Family members told reporters that both children have since disowned their father and have also rejected the use of his last name.
The trial continues.
African News Agency
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