The murder trial of murdered Kensington toddler, Jeremiah Ruiters, was set to kick off Monday in the Western Cape High Court but has now been delayed by a week.
His mother Abigail Ruiters, 30, and her boyfriend Ameerudien Peters, 26, have been charged with the rape and murder of the one-year-old boy.
It is alleged that in June 2017, Peters, who was looking after the tot, raped, beat and then stabbed Jeremiah to death at their home in Salamander Square.
He took the child to the local clinic, where the tot was declared dead on arrival.
Police said Jeremiah had old and new wounds on his body, he had bleeding on the brain, a cracked skull, broken arm, broken and healing ribs, and bite marks on his body including near his penis.
The cause of death was cited as “multiple injuries and the consequences thereof”.
Ruiters is charged with murder and child neglect under the Children’s Act, while Peters is charged with rape and murder.
Last year, the couple was slapped with two more charges of child abuse in relation to Ruiters’ two surviving children, both under 10 years old.
The couple also have a baby daughter.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said the matter was postponed because the judge was not available to preside this week.
“The judge is not available for the week. The matter has to be postponed to next Monday,” Ntabazalila said.
Ruiters is out on R2 000 bail. Peters remains in custody in Pollsmoor Prison.