Mpho Selina Madule (39) was recently sentenced to life in prison in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court, for murdering her infant on April 12, 2020.

According to an article published by Roodepoort Record, a statement issued by the National Prosecuting Authority says investigations conducted by Warrant Officer Clifford Alcock from Roodepoort detectives revealed that Madule and the newborn’s father told Emergency Medical Services that the baby was injured during birth.

A paramedic provided initial treatment and referred the infant to Leratong Hospital, where the baby died.

Madule was convicted of premeditated murder, after the state leading evidence by, among others, two doctors who testified that the baby’s injuries could only have been caused by a sharp object, either a knife or a pair of scissors.

“They further testified that force was applied to have caused fatal injuries as the deceased’s collarbone was also broken.

“In her defence, presented through her attorney, the accused claimed that while using the toilet due to pregnancy-related discomfort, she suddenly experienced cramps, knelt and gave birth. She said that the infant accidentally fell onto a shrub, resulting in fatal injuries,” reads the statement.

Prosecutor Sipho Makhubo argued that the murder of the infant was premeditated and that Madule failed to take responsibility for her actions and attempted to evade justice despite repeatedly stabbing the baby.

Handing down the sentence, magistrate Ettienne van Niekerk ruled that the accused’s dishonest testimony and the premeditated nature of the murder meant there were no mitigating circumstances to warrant a departure from the mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment.

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