#PelserTrial: “If he could do that to a baby, [imagine] what would he do to us?”
An emotionally draining day.
Just after lunch, at 2pm yesterday (4 October), the grandmother of murdered baby Deon Rothman, Linda, took to the stand again for further cross-examination.
Under the circumstances Linda seemed feisty, not backing down when the Defence tried to cast shadows over her version of the fateful day. The State had the first opportunity to question Linda and State Prosecutor Paseka Temeki started by asking her to describe various photos of the crime scene that he had given her. (Linda asked to see the censored photos in which the images of the baby were blackened out.)
Trial Day 3:Â #PelserTrial: Grandmother takes to the stand
In the light of murder accused Mathinus Pelser’s claims via his lawyer that he was the one who wanted a divorce on the grounds of the baby’s mother, Bianca’s mood swings caused by her depression and medication, Temeki wanted to know if Linda had known about the problems. “I suspected there was something wrong. I once took Bianca to the clinic for an injection and when the nurse lifted her skirt, I saw a large, blue bruise on her side. When I asked her what had caused it, she said she fell, but she could not look me in the eyes. I did not believe her,” said Linda.
He also asked Linda about Pelser’s claims that Bianca’s medication and depression caused her to be forgetful and that she would often do things and not remember them. Linda denied this and at one stage even told the court that Bianca was “doing fine”.
He then questioned her about her relationship with Pelser. She told him that they had an amicable relationship and that before the incident there was no animosity between them.
Trial Day 3:Â #PelserTrial: Accused will testify that mother murdered baby
When Temeki wanted to know how the incident affected her and her daughter, she did become emotional. “She could not open the door in fear of discovering something again. When she came home at night she would sit in her car, too afraid to come in. I had to fetch her with a flashlight. She also became afraid of the dark,” said Linda. When Temeki asked her why they feared for their lives when Pelser was on the run, she chillingly replied, “If he could do that to a baby, [imagine] what would he do to us?”
The Defence then had an opportunity to cross-examine Linda. Pelser’s legal team questioned her extensively about Bianca’s depression and decision, without doctor’s advice, to wean herself off the medication in January this year. When he asked her to respond to Pelser’s claim that he was not responsible for the baby’s death, she incredulously replied, “I have no response for you”. He also asked her about the divorce and whether she ever confronted Pelser about it. “No, I did not get involved in their marriage,” she answered. She also told him that although suffering from depression and being on medication, Bianca’s condition was “stable” prior to the murder.
Trial Day 3:Â #PelserTrial: Mother continues giving testimony
After the court had been adjourned, a supporter asked Ronel Hayes of the Justice for Baby Deon group if Linda “was okay”, to which Hayes replied, “Don’t worry about Linda, she is a Bull Terrier”.
Today will see day four of the trial and it is expected that the investigating officer, detective Constable Motaung, as well as Pelser will take the stand.
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 websitesÂ
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
