The testimony of slain tot Orderick Lucas’ mother is back in the spotlight after a social worker said she heard a different version of what happened on the day the one-year-old boy’s arm was broken.
Mariel Bester took the stand at the Western Cape High Court yesterday in the trial of Melvin Volkwyn, who is accused of murdering the tot and dumping him in a drain.
Orderick was last seen on 24 March 2019, but it was only four days later when his mother, Davedine, said she discovered him missing.
On 2 April 2019, his tiny body was found in a drain a street away from his ouma’s home and Volkwyn was charged with his murder.
This followed claims by Davedine that her friend Volkwyn was the last person to care for the boy.
The tot’s broken arm has been central to the case as the state has accused Volkwyn of bullying the boy and intentionally breaking his arm.
Davedine told the court that she had left Orderick with Volkwyn three months prior to his death and when she returned, she found that his arm was broken.
Volkwyn has denied this and two other witnesses claim they saw Davedine hurt Orderick when she fell on her back after smoking mandrax.
The child was later taken to hospital and social workers were called in to do an assessment on their living conditions.
Orderick and his twin brothers were later removed and placed in the care of their ouma, Cornelia Scheepers.
In her testimony, Bester told the court that when Orderick was hospitalised, Davedine could not provide an answer about what had happened to him and social workers were appointed to investigate if Orderick was being taken care of properly by his parents.
After he was discharged, Davedine claimed that Orderick must have gotten hurt while playing outside.
Bester testified: “The child’s biological mother said she was busy in the Wendy house and she heard her son crying. When she went out, he was lying on the ground and his arm was sore.
“She said Orderick may have fallen over a log.”
She said Davedine also admitted to using her children’s Sassa payouts to buy drugs and, after the assessment, it was found that the children should be removed.
The assessment conducted by the social workers was handed in to court yesterday and highlighted the unhygienic living conditions, the parents’ drug use, domestic violence and the fact that Orderick’s birth had not been registered, as their main concerns.