Murdered blue-eyed Poppie: Judgment for mother, stepfather tomorrow

The Poppie van der Merwe murder case resumed in the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday, 5 December, with Susan Bothma taking the stand in defence of her daughter, Louisa Koekemoer, Randfontein Herald reports.

Both Kobus Koekemoer (Poppie’s stepfather) and Louisa Koekemoer (Poppie’s biological mother) were arrested in connection with the blue-eyed little girl’s tragic death in Brits last year. Poppie died on the way to a hospital in the area as a result of her injuries. She was laid to rest in Westonaria. Her biological father, Christo van der Merwe, is also from Westonaria.

READ MORE: Poppie’s stepdad slammed her head against cupboard a day before her death, court hears

Bothma testified that the relationship between Louisa and the children was always loving and that she had never witnessed any form of abuse from Louisa.

The testimony from Susan finalised the witnesses for the defence and the heads of arguments were delivered immediately.

An advocate for the state argued the Koekemoer couple should both be convicted of murdering Poppie and for seriously assaulting Louisa’s 5-year-old son.

Kobus Koekemoer’s defence advocate argued the state had not proved that he could have foreseen Poppie’s death, while Louisa’s defence attorney argued that she was, at most, negligent.

In return, the judge stated that it’s worrying that everyone in Orania knew about the abuse and did nothing. He went on to describe the injuries sustained by Poppie (who sustained a deadly brain injury and had bruises all over body) as absolutely shocking.

He will deliver his judgment on Wednesday, 6 December.

In the previous court appearance, Kobus Koekemoer admitted he might have caused some of Poppie’s injuries, but denied that he was responsible for her death, pointing to his wife as her killer.

Poppie’s stepdad slammed her head against cupboard a day before her death, court hears