Couple pleads not guilty to attempted murder

A PRETORIA couple charged with the attempted murder and abuse of their then 4-month-old son, only identified as Baby M, yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charges and told the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, that the State will have to prove its case against them.

- ZELDA VENTER [e-mail]

It is claimed that the couple, who cannot be named to safeguard their son’s identity, abused the baby from birth until he was eventually admitted to the ICU at the Pretoria West Hospital in 2020.

The couple, the biological parents of the baby, were arrested at their Sunnyside flat after the baby struggled to breathe and was rushed to the hospital.

The baby had suffered several injuries, including several fractured ribs, a broken femur, respiratory failure, and facial injuries.

According to medical findings, there was evidence that this was not an isolated incident, but that it appeared that Baby M had been injured over time.

‘This was based on findings that some of his fractures were in various stages of healing.