Ameerodien Peters claims the little boy he is accused of raping and killing, injured himself after falling from a “two-metre high” table.
Peters, who this week took to the stand in the Western Cape High Court in his own defence, has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and claims the horrific injuries to the body of one-year-old Jeremiah Ruiters can all be explained.
Peters, 28, and the child’s mother, Abigail Ruiters, 31, are on trial for the rape and murder of the boy at their home in Salamander Square, Kensington, in June 2017.
Peters took the child to the local clinic, where the tot was declared dead on arrival.
The cause of death was established as multiple blunt force trauma.
Ruiters is charged with murder and child neglect under the Children’s Act.
The couple is facing two more charges of child abuse relating to Ruiters’ two surviving children.
On Tuesday, Peters gave his version of events, which did not correspond with the State’s evidence.
Jeremiah was admitted to Red Cross Children’s Hospital in March 2017 with a broken arm while Peters was looking after him.
Abigail Ruiters, 31
According to Peters, he was busy cooking when the incident happened.
“I went into the main house [from our Wendy house] and while I was straining the macaroni, I was watching him through the back door.
“I saw him getting onto the table which was 1.7 to 2m high. I shouted ‘Jeremiah!’ and he got a fright and fell off the table.”
Peters also claimed that on the day of Jeremiah’s death, while running with him to the local clinic, he fell on top of the child, who somehow got out from under him and rolled into a ditch.
Jeremiah’s post-mortem revealed he had fresh and healing wounds and lesions to his abdomen, both sides of his face, a broken tongue and his nasal bone was piercing through his nostrils.
Peters maintained he was a “devoted father” to Ruiters’ three children.
“Yes, I am not perfect but I did everything for her and her children that I could. I put her and her three children first in my life,” he told the court.
However, previous testimony from multiple witnesses revealed the children were unkempt, hungry and dirty.
Peters’ lawyer, Advocate Alan Koester, also questioned his client on previous testimony by Abigail’s youngest daughter, which was held in camera.
“She said you used to bite Jeremiah and hit him over his legs. Do you have anything to say on this?” Koester asked.
“No, I never did that,” Peters replied.
VICTIM: Jeremiah, 1
Jeremiah’s post-mortem revealed he had wounds and lesions on his body and scarring on his legs.
The post-mortem also revealed that he was sodomised, a charge Peters denies.
Forensic pathologist, Dr. Marna du Plessis, previously told the court the child’s anus had been penetrated: “The features are in keeping with forceful penetration with a blunt object.”
When asked about his education, Peters claimed he had dropped out of university: “I was at university and studied engineering. I still had two years left to do. I studied four years.”
The trial continues.