Ameerodien Peters has been found guilty of the rape and murder of one-year-old Jeremiah Ruiters.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah’s mother and Peters’ co-accused, Abigail Ruiters has been found guilty of child neglect and she was sent back to the mang after her bail was revoked.
Judgement was handed down in the Western Cape High on Wednesday, more than two years after the tot was raped and murdered at his home in Salamander Square, Kensington in 2017.
Ruiters, who has been out on bail for the duration of the trial, skrikked when she heard that she will not be going home for Christmas.
Abigail Ruiters has been found guilty of child neglect.
Judge, Monde Samela, said Ruiters needs to be taken into custody “to send a strong message to others out there”.
But, the judgement brings very little comfort for Jeremiah's paternal family, who feels that Ruiters got off lightly.
Jeremiah's paternal aunt, Petinna Timm, says she feels Abigail should also be found guilty of murder.
“It’s a waste of two-and-a-half years to hear that she (Abigail) is only being found guilty of negligence. We are unhappy about the outcome,” she told the Daily Voice outside court.
VICTIM: Jeremiah Ruiters, 1
“For me, justice did not take its course.
“They found (Peters) guilty (of rape and murder), but I can’t understand how they can overlook that fact that Abigail had gotten free of her own child’s murder.
“If it wasn’t for her and what she allowed, I don’t think he (Peters) would have been able to put an end to my little nephew’s life,” she says.
Sentencing proceedings starts 11 February 2020.
Jeremiah's paternal aunt, Petinna Timm. Video: Robin- Lee Francke
*More on this story and all the court action in Thursday’s Daily Voice.