Accused say baby was stillborn

2008-11-20 22:30

Pretoria - Two Pretoria women accused of drowning a newborn baby in July last year pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

However, Cecilia Seale and Rosinah Show, Seale's aunt, of Mamelodi admitted guilt on the second charge, of concealing the birth.

The court heard that Seale was pregnant, but that very few people knew it.

The two women claimed the baby girl was born dead.

Forensic pathologist Dr Ryan Blumenthal testified that there were no external injuries to the infant's body.

The lungs floated on water, indicating that it had air, and had filled the chest cavity.

"These lungs have probably breathed air," Blumenthal said. It was his opinion that the baby had not been still-born.

The baby's weight and length also indicated it was a full-term baby with no signs of natural diseases.

Puseletso Show, daughter of the aunt, said that when Seale went into labour, she sat on top of a grey bucket.

Not long after this, she saw a baby in the bucket. Seale covered the bucket with cloth, a towel and a pillow.

The next morning Seale buried the body behind a shack on the premises in Mamelodi.

Mamelodi West police constable Tiny Lefalatsa went to the house on July 9, 2007 after receiving a call.

When her boot sunk into fresh soil, she stuck her hand in. It came out covered in blood. Lefalatsa then dug open the hole and found the body of a baby girl in it.

The trial will continue on Friday.

- SAPA