Baby's murder hits home
2005-07-10 22:01
Cape Town - "The death of my baby has only hit me now."
This is what a teary Natasha Norton, the mother of six-month-old Jordan Leigh, said on Sunday after police at the weekend arrested four people in connection with the murder of the baby.
The four, including a 16-year-old boy, will probably appear on charges of murder and robbery in the Wynberg magistrate's court on Monday.
According to captain Elliot Sinyangana, a police spokesperson, all four suspects were arrested in Nyanga. They are aged 16, 18, 22 and 32 respectively.
On Saturday, police confiscated a safe containing a firearm thought to have been stolen from the home of the Norton family on June 15.
Surprised
It was on this day that baby Jordan had been found in a bedroom with a stab wound to the neck, after robbers had surprised her uncle, Dylan Norton, and the baby's minder.
On Sunday, Norton said due to all the attention and support the family had been receiving lately from family and friends, she had not had time to think of life without Jordan.
"On Saturday evening, I slept for the first time in the room Jordan and I had been sharing.
"It has just too many memories of Jordan, my child I only had for six months.
"We are especially going to miss her in the morning because she woke up with a smile.
"All of a sudden, I feel more like a child and no longer the proud mother of a beautiful, wonderful baby."
Relieved
Norton says she is highly relieved that police have arrested the suspects. "Now I can sleep better at night."
Jordan's grandfather, Vernon Norton, praised the police's efforts.
The past couple of weeks the family has feared that Jordan's murderers could return to their home.
"The court case will also possibly shed light on why Jordan had been taken from us so suddenly," Norton said tearfully.
Dina Rodrigues, 24, who had been charged earlier with the alleged contract murder on the baby, was released on bail of R20 000 shortly before the four suspects were arrested.