Murder suspect Abigail Ruiters threw herself at the mercy of the Western Cape High Court on Thursday, saying the only thing she was guilty of was being a bad mother.
Ruiters completed her testimony in the trial of her one-year-old son, Jeremiah Ruiters.
The tot was raped and murdered at their Kensington home in June 2017 and Ruiters, 31, and her ex-berk Ameerodien Peters, 28, are being charged for the crime.
The toddler sustained extensive injuries which his mother could not account for.
Judge Monde Samela sought clarity from Ruiters.
“To me, it seems, you’re distancing yourself from the injuries of this child. You’re saying the injuries of this child must be put squarely at the door of Peters because he was looking after the child in your absence?” Samela asked.
Ruiters responded: “Yes. I say this because he mostly looked after Jeremiah. I never did any of those injuries.”
She then told the court: “This case has been on for two years and five months. It’s taking
too long.
“Sitting at court every day opens up old wounds. I’ve never had closure.
“I just want the court to make the right decisions. I know I’m innocent. This case taught me a big lesson: not to trust people so easily.”
VICTIM: Jeremiah Ruiters, 1
A confused Samela asked: “What are you innocent of?”
“I’ve been charged with murder. I did not commit murder. I didn’t cause those injuries.
“But I am guilty, because I could have been a better mother to my children,” Ruiters said.
The matter has been postponed to 2 December.