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Police 'won't forget this case'
01/10/2007 14:10 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A five-year-old boy stabbed by his father in KwaZulu-Natal's Umlazi suburb on Sunday night died in hospital shortly after midday on Monday, Umlazi police confirmed.
The 40-year-old man told police he believed his son was "an animal" and that he was defending himself when he attacked his son.
Police spokesperson Constable Lungile Jama said the boy died at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital on Monday before he could give police any details on where his mother lived.
Jama said the incident had left police officers in tears.
The youngster received several stab wounds to the head, back and one leg. Part of his tongue and an ear were also cut.
The child also had head injuries and several of his teeth were knocked out after he was thrown against a wall or similar "hard object," said Jama.
The child was rushed to hospital but died early on Monday afternoon.
"The father claims he thought his son was a big animal ... and he attempted to defend himself. He did not realise it was his son," added Jama.
The suspect, say police, may need to be examined by a psychiatrist. He was in police custody on Monday after being arrested.
Police were also attempting to locate the child's mother as neither the little boy nor his mum were from Umlazi.
Police believe mother and child lived in Ezimbokodweni near KwaMakutha on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. The father had apparently fetched his son a few days ago to stay with him for a while.
Police were initially planning to get hospital permission to allow the child to leave the hospital premises for a short while to direct police to his home.
"Now that the child is gone, we are planning to get the suspect to direct police to the mother's home," said Jama.
She said police would not forget the case.
"Police who attended the scene are all traumatised. This was an extremely sad case and many of them were in tears," she said.
It was not immediately clear when the father would make a court appearance.
- SAPA
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