Alleged child killer Melvin Volkwyn has blamed Orderick Lucas’ mother for her child’s death, but claimed it could have been accidental.
Mom Davedine Lucas, 29, returned to the Western Cape High Court on Thursday where the defence attorney continued her cross-examination in the murder trial.
The body of the one-year-old toddler was found dumped in a drain in Kleinvlei a week after he had gone missing in March 2019.
In her testimony, Davedine admitted to being friends with the man accused of killing her child, saying they often smoked tik and Mandrax together.
On Thursday, defence attorney Susan Kuun continued to raise questions about the credibility of Davedine’s testimony that Volkwyn was the last person to see Orderick alive, highlighting the neglect of Davedine’s five children.
Her eldest daughter, 14, lives with her paternal ouma, while her mother Cornelia Scheepers takes care of her twin sons.
It was also revealed that Davedine gave birth to another baby in August last year who was also removed by social workers.
“I am going to put it to you that you have a history that children in your care get hurt,” she said, but Davedine disagreed.
Kuun then asked her to confirm that she was aware a court order had banned her from caring for Orderick at the time of his disappearance, which she acknowledged.
The boy had been placed in the care of Cornelia a few months prior, after Davedine allegedly broke his arm.
Silence fell over the courtroom when Kuun read out Volkwyn’s version of events: “It is quite possible that early that morning when you took the baby to your mother something might have happened, like an accident.
“And that you were scared because you knew that you were wrong and hid the baby?
“And this would explain why you never went to your mother to look for Orderick or took the medicine to her.”
Davedine quickly denied this and explained the medication was taken by her boyfriend to her mother, but she did not clarify if he had seen the child there.
Kuun also put it to Davedine that this would explain why she did not look for Orderick for FOUR days.
The anxious-looking mom stunned the court when she was made to explain the incident in which she blew Mandrax smoke in her child’s face.
This was brought up in court on Wednesday but on Thursday state prosecutor, Morné Julius, requested clarity.
Davedine said her son was annoying her: “Ek het dit gerook en in sy gesig geblaas. Hy staan ’n paar meters weg van my. Soos Mel gesê het, hy was altyd lastig, veral as ek besig is.”
The trial continues on Monday when Orderick’s father, Kounkou Dziendelet, is expected to take the witness stand.