Court denies bail to child-murder accused Tiffany Meek

TIFFANY Nicole Meek, who is charged with the murder of her 11-year-old son Jayden-Lee Meek, was denied bail yesterday by the Roodepoort Regional Court in Johannesburg.

- JONISAYI MAROMO

The magistrate read out her ruling on the bail application while Meek sat in the dock weeping.

She found that Meek had failed to prove exceptional circumstances to warrant her release on bail.

“The applicant failed to satisfy this court that she discharged the onus to prove on a balance of probabilities that the interest of justice permits her release from detention in terms of Section 60 (B) of the Act; therefore, bail is accordingly refused for the applicant,’ ruled Magistrate Annelin Africa.

Her defence lawyer, Noven Naidoo, has argued strongly for the release of his client on bail, insisting that she is not a flight risk. On the other hand, community members have been protesting outside the court, demanding that her bail bid be denied.