At exactly 12.42pm Marthinus Pelser took the stand in a court room where you could hear a pin drop.
After repeatedly being told to speak up, he was ordered to stand while testifying and the air-conditioning in the court was switched off to eliminate the humming.
Trial Day 8: #PelserTrial: Accused finally takes the stand
According to Pelser, his ex-wife Bianca Rothman returned from her early shift at the pharmacy at about noon. He claims he cannot remember that she had a shower or whether she had had her hair cut. He said they spoke briefly about their day thusfar, after which she went to baby Deon’s room.
He remained in the living-room and began playing Playstation. “Half an hour later, my son woke up and my wife went back to his room to change him. She was in the room for about ten minutes, and although I did not hear my son scream or cry, I suddenly heard a smash, like meat falling on the floor. I got up and rushed to his room. I found my wife standing next to the changing station, staring at the floor and not saying a word,” said Pelser. In the gallery you could hear family and supporters gasping in disbelief.
“I pushed past her and saw my son lying face-down on the floor. My wife was still staring speechlessly at him. I turned him around and saw that his head seemed soft and blood was coming out of his nose.
I didn’t feel any air coming out of his nose. Throughout the whole process, my wife just stood by quietly. I then heard our security gate lock and realised she had gone back to work. It was about 4.30pm. I then put my son on the changing station. I then went to the kitchen, took a beer out of the fridge and took out my wife’s medicine.
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When I went back to my son I saw that his head was bigger, swollen. Blood was still coming out of his nose so I decided to bath him,” said Pelser. He then went on to describe how he ran a little water in the bathtub, undressed his son and got into the bath with him while still wearing his shorts. After washing the baby’s face he dressed the baby, swaddled him and put him in his cot.
“I turned around, closed the door and went to dress in jeans and a belt. I then went to fetch another fresh beer and drank my medicine,” said Pelser. At this stage, court was adjourned for lunch. Proceedings will resume at 2pm.
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