The five suspects accused of kidnapping Eden Laird when he was 13 months old appeared again in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on June 30.
The Laird family’s domestic worker, Cleopatra Manjankozi, together with Kholwani Nyathi, Amos Moyo, Maduna Nonkanyiso, and Nelisini Gabela, are accused of kidnapping and extortion under Schedule 6 of the Criminal Code.
Eden’s story
Eden was reported missing on May 2, 2018.
The domestic allegedly left her place of work, Eden’s home in Brackendowns, with the toddler for a stroll and never returned, according to police reports.
Manjankozi worked for the Lairds for two years after being recommended by Eden’s grandparents, whom she worked for.
The accused wanted a ransom of R6m in exchange for the baby’s safe return.
Eden was safely returned to his parents on May 5, 2018, thanks to a police sting operation that resulted in his discovery in Windmill Park near Boksburg that weekend.
The suspects’ first court appearance was on May 7, 2018.
Court proceedings
During the recent court proceedings, the state prosecutor and the three attorneys for the five accused were supposed to submit their addresses before the magistrate. However, due to time constraints, only the state prosecutor submitted.
In her address, the state prosecutor said the suspects must be found guilty of kidnapping Baby Eden because the state had submitted concrete proof before the court that proved the accused were liable for the kidnapping.
According to the state prosecutor, the kidnappers issued an initial ransom before later demanding another ransom of R6m.
The matter was postponed to July 11 for the attorneys to submit their addresses to the magistrate.
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