The State prosecutor cross-examining Ameerodien Peters in the Western Cape High Court pointed out that little Jeremiah Ruiters always got hurt while in his care.
Peters, 28, and the child’s mother, Abigail Ruiters, 31, are on trial for the one-year-old’s rape and murder at their home in Salamander Square, Kensington, in June 2017.
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.
Prosecutor Maria Marshall told Peters his testimony “keeps changing” and the explanation he gives of Jeremiah’s injuries are not consistent with the doctor’s findings.
In March, Jeremiah broke his arm. In April, he had sustained deep cuts to his finger and it became infected and in May he fell out of Peters’ arms and on his face.
GONE: Jeremiah was raped and murdered. File photo
“In March, Jeremiah fell and broke his arm. You stated he fell from a height of 1.6 to 1.7metres.
“You demonstrated the height of the table which we measured in court to be a metre.
“However, when Dr. Davis testified with the history given to him, the height Jeremiah fell from (one metre), it would be improbable for him to break his arm,” Marshall submitted.
She stated Peters was a liegbek and inventing new evidence to save himself.
“You’re making a lot of mistakes, Mr. Peters. You’re colouring your evidence in as you go along,” Marshall submitted.
Peters responded: “I am not doing so. I have a lot of things on my mind.”
Peters previously testified that he looked after his former girlfriend’s three children while she goes to work.
The matter continues.