Jayden-Lee Meek | What to expect today
As the bail hearing of Tiffany Meek enters its fourth day, her defence counsel is expected to cross-examine the investigating officer.
The State concluded its arguments on Tuesday opposing Meek’s bail in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court.
Meek, 31, from Fleurhof, faces charges of murder of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, crimen injuria, attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, and defeating or obstructing the administration of justice.
On Tuesday, the investigating officer urged the court not to release Meek on bail.
He explained he saw the likelihood of Meek evading her trial if she is released. The court also heard she may be in danger given the public outcry regarding the case.
“People do not feel safe given the circumstances of the case. If the public sees her outside… I mean, we see communities taking the law into their own hands as they see the State and judiciary failing them. Her release will disturb public peace,” the court heard.
Meek had urged the court to grant her bail and gave her father’s address in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where she could stay until her trial commences.
However, the investigating officer stated this would be wrong to place the burden on KZN police to monitor Meek and do the job the police based in Gauteng are already tasked to do.
The court also heard the post-mortem report revealed that Jayden-Lee sustained no defensive wounds – meaning he did not fight back.
He further revealed injuries listed in the post-mortem report: “Deep skull hemorrhaging with cerebral swelling with a linear abrasion above the lateral right eyebrow, a linear abrasion lateral to the right lower lip, green and blue bruise above the posterior right elbow. There is also no visible defensive injuries.”
The cause of death was identified as blunt force head injuries.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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