FOURIESBURG – A 28-year-old man from the Fouriesburg township of Mashaeng in the Eastern Free State has been arrested in connection with the alleged Father due in court over murder of his six-year-old songruesome murder of his six-year-old biological son. WO Mmako Mophiring, spokesperson for the Free State police in Thabo Mofutsanyana district, said the Fouriesburg police arrested the suspect following the discovery of the child’s body in the house.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Fouriesburg Magistrates’ Court tomorrow – Tuesday 3 February – facing a charge of murder.
Mophiring said a community member made the discovery under a bed yesterday, Sunday 1 February, at about 10:40. He said an investigation is underway regarding the murder and that a post-mortem will be conducted.
“The child had visible bruises on the body,” he said.
“A community member entered the suspect’s residence, noticing unusual darkness and disorder in one of the bedrooms. Clothes were scattered around the room, which raised suspicion. Upon shining a cellphone light under the bed, the community member made the shocking discovery of the child’s body,” said Mophiring.
He said the child was last seen on Thursday 29 January shortly after being assaulted, allegedly by the father. Mophiring said the child was not reported as missing despite his disappearance of few days after the alleged assault. According to preliminary findings, the suspect allegedly assaulted the child in the presence of his mother – the victim’s grandmother.
“The father allegedly assaulted the child with a wooden stick. When the grandmother questioned the reason for his action, the father reportedly responded saying that he could do as he pleases with his child. This was the last time the grandmother saw the boy,” said Mophiring.
Short-tempered father sentenced for beating own son to death
