NORTHERN CAPE. – A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to six years direct imprisonment after being found guilty of the abduction of his two-week-old daughter in Carnarvon. He swung the baby daughter by her feet in the presence of police officers.
According to police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Litabe, police were called to a residence on 17 June shortly after 21:00 after the man allegedly forcibly took the baby from her mother. He threatened to kill her if anyone tried to enter the shack where he had taken the child.
Upon arrival, police officers attempted to defuse the situation. However, the man became aggressive and officers allegedly saw him holding the baby by her feet and swinging her. He eventually fell asleep, after which police gained access to the shack and rescued the baby. He was taken into custody after he lay on top of the child. The baby was found alive and was immediately taken to a hospital for medical examination and treatment.
The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Marlon Eksteen of the Carnarvon unit for domestic violence, child protection and sexual offences. The man was initially charged with abduction and attempted murder, but was ultimately found guilty of abduction, while the attempted murder charge was later withdrawn.
The Carnarvon regional court sentenced him to six years direct imprisonment and also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
