#PelserJudgement: Baby murderer found guilty
His version of events is 'highly improbable'.
At about 12.30pm the gallery in the Roodepoort Regional Court cheered when Magistrate Delize Smith found 23-year-old Marthinus Pelser guilty of the premeditated murder of his six-month-old son, Deon, in June 2016.
The proceedings started at 10am but not without Pelser unable to contain his arrogance. When he was brought up from the holding cells and the media was given an opportunity to take photos, he cheekily asked the photographers, “How many photos do you need?”.
Also Read: Judgement day for Pelser
Smith then proceeded to summarise the evidence given by the different witnesses during the trial, which included that of state pathologist Gina Stewart. Her evidence would later turn out to be damning for Pelser’s case.
Just past 11am Smith started to read out which of the witnesses’ evidence was either accepted or rejected. She called the evidence given by Bianca (mother) and Linda (grandmother) Rothman’s credible and accepted it. Although Bianca was a single witness she met the standards of credibility required in the case.
Also Read: Man wanted for questioning in connection with baby’s death
Finally Smith addressed Pelser’s testimony. She said it would be nonsensical to claim a third party murdered the baby and therefore the court was sitting with two conflicting versions. She did, however, call Pelser’s version ‘highly improbable’. She said over and above lying about certain aspects he also contradicted himself. Smith said that Pelser changed his story from hearing the baby “fall” to hearing him being “thrown” after Stewart’s findings had shown that it was impossible for the baby to have suffered such brutal and extensive injuries by falling. “It was clear you were cutting your cloth according to the way the wind blows,” Smith told him.
Also Read: ‘Never push a man to violence’ says father’s Facebook post
Smith cited the following as reasons for the court finding the baby’s death to be premeditated murder:
• Pelser knew a divorce was imminent.
• Pelser couldn’t face continuing his life without the baby.
• Each of the many wounds, including blunt-force trauma, strangulation and burns, was inflicted separately and was not a single injury.
• The injuries were not a single act but several acts. Therefore they were not inflicted on the spur of the moment but were the result of a deliberate decision.
Without pausing, Smith suddenly and sternly ordered Pelser to stand up – “Marthinus Pelser the court finds you guilty of murder,” Smith said to Pelser, who showed no emotion during the proceedings.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
72 Comments