Grandmas keep killer's child

2003-07-11 08:36

Marida Fitzpatrick

Johannesburg - The four-year-old daughter of murderer Collin Bouwer, 28, would have landed in an orphanage if her grandmothers hadn't decided to bury the hatchet.

Bouwer's mother Mariette Kruger and Louise van Schalkwyk - mother of murdered Ria Bouwer, 23 - joined forces against the welfare department in Kempton Park magistrate's court on Wednesday.

On Tuesday department officials arrived at Kruger's doorstep to take Melissa to an orphanage because her mother was dead and her father in prison.

Kruger said she was shocked to hear about the department's plans. "I wasn't prepared to have her put in an orphanage."

Kruger and Van Schalkwyk's lawyers opposed the department's request in court.

On Wednesday Kruger said Melissa was still in her care and she would remain there in the foreseeable future.

Van Schalkwyk had previously requested custody of her granddaughter. Bouwer and his mother had refused Van Schalkwyk all contact with the child, who was six months old when her mother died.

Melissa has been in Kruger's care since her father was sentenced to eight years in prison two weeks ago. He was convicted of culpable homicide and defeating the ends of justice after admitting he had strangled his wife.

- Beeld