‘Monster’ couple back in court

The man (36), dubbed as the ‘Springs Monster’ and his wife (36) stand accused of abusing and neglecting their five children.

Read: “Springs Monster” weeps in High Court

One of the neighbours, who lived in a room behind the ‘House of Horrors’, testified in court about the events on May 24, 2014, the day after the boy escaped from his parents’ house and ran to their neighbours.

Court reporter for Caxton’s The Citizen newspaper Ilse de Lange, who was in court, reports the accused had asked the neighbour to hide him and his injured son from the police and told her they had been “playing”.

Read: ‘Springs Monster’ child abuse trial continues

The neighbour testified the boy’s face was swollen and his eyes were blue, but the boy claimed he had been playing with friends.

On the father’s request the boy was hidden in the ceiling and he was hiding under a pile of washing, while the police and social workers searched the main house.

She testified that, after the police and social workers had left, she informed the father the boy’s injuries “were not from playing”.

Read:  Visuals shown in Springs Monster trial

The man pleaded guilty to one of the 22 charges against him – interfering with a police officer while he was on duty during an investigation.

His wife pleaded not guilty to 20 of the charges against her.

The charges against them include attempted murder, rape, abuse, possession and dealing in drugs.

The father also denied that he had raped and sexually abused his 16-year-old daughter.

Read: ‘Springs monster’ heads to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital

W/O Rudi Jansen, the investigating officer, testified the mother couldn’t tell him where her son was, but when the father later arrived at the house he informed Jansen the boy had gone fishing with his uncle.

The father also pretended to be his wife’s brother.

Read: Mother arrested in Springs Monster case

The husband will remain in custody at Modderbee prison.

The trial continues today.