Conflicting statements and OB entries under scrutiny in Meek bail hearing

Conflicting accounts of clothing and missing occurrence book (OB) entries came under scrutiny on July 23 during the bail application hearing of Tiffany Nicole Meek (31) in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court.

Meek’s defence attorney, Noven Naidoo, cross-examined state witness and investigating officer, Sergeant Nceba Diko, regarding the clothing Jayden-Lee Meek was reportedly wearing on the day he went missing.

Naidoo highlighted that the teacher, the day shift security guard at Swazi’s Place, and Meek herself all gave differing statements about Jayden-Lee’s clothing.

“My client informed me she helped him get dressed that morning. He was wearing grey long pants, a white shirt, a tie, and black takkies,” Naidoo told the court.

• Also read: Bail hearing of Tiffany Nicole Meek continues tomorrow

According to a statement from Jayden-Lee’s teacher at Royal College, he was wearing a red school tracksuit with a school badge and was carrying his school bag.

The day shift security guard reported that Jayden was seen wearing a red school jacket with a badge and black shorts.

Diko said he could not confirm what the child was wearing, as the descriptions were provided by individuals who had seen Jayden-Lee that day.

OB entries from Swazi’s Place were also submitted to the court.

@caxton.jhbwest The investigating officer, Sgt Nceba Diko, checks Jayden-Lee’s schoolbag for a book with written work from May 13. #CaxonLocalMedia #Fyp #Journalist #RoodepoortRecord #JaydenLeeMeek #fleurhof #courtappearance #roodepoort #Murdersuspect #JusticeforJayden #JusticeForJaydenLee #truecrime #truecrimesouthafrica #truecrimesa ♬ original sound – Caxton JHB West 

The entries showed that the first report of Jayden’s disappearance was made to the night shift security guard at 20:30 by unknown individuals. Meek reported the matter at 21:00, accompanied by police.

Naidoo stated, “The accused will say she spoke to the day shift security guard and that an entry was made in the OB. She gave him her phone number, told him she was going to the shop, and instructed him to call if Jayden returned.”

• Also read: #JusticeforJayden: Court hears of blunt force trauma and timeline linking mother to crime

“There is no record of this in the OB,” Diko responded.

Naidoo also questioned the officer about an alleged missing page from the OB, claiming that on 14 May – the day Jayden-Lee’s body was discovered – Meek and her family noticed the page was missing when they attempted to photograph the book.

Diko admitted he had not certified the OB copies submitted to court, citing workload as the reason for the oversight.

@caxton.jhbwest Cross-examination between the defence attorney Noven Naidoo and state witness Sgt Nceba Diko commences. Diko is answering questions regarding the safety of Tiffany Nicole Meek (31) if she is released. #CaxonLocalMedia #Fyp #Journalist #RoodepoortRecord #JaydenLeeMeek #fleurhof #courtappearance #roodepoort #Murdersuspect #JusticeforJayden #JusticeForJaydenLee ♬ original sound – Caxton JHB West 

The defence also presented a Bolt receipt showing that Meek travelled to Swazi’s Place at 05:12, not 04:00 as stated by Diko. Naidoo explained that this detail had been deliberately omitted from Meek’s affidavit to illustrate that she did not travel there at 04:00, as alleged. This timing further contradicted the OB entry provided by the security guard.

Further questioning focused on the nationality of the security guards. Naidoo asked whether Diko had checked their immigration status.

• Also read: Mother of Jayden-Lee Meek appears in court for bail hearing amid damning testimony

“They are both Congolese nationals, and I did not check their status,” Diko said.

When asked by the court about the relevance of this line of questioning, Naidoo argued that if the guards were arrested, they might not be available to testify in court.

Before proceedings concluded, the investigating officer presented Jayden’s school bag, which was found at Unit 13, where Meek resides.

A schoolbook was then used to confirm that Jayden had attended school on May 13 and had written work for that day.

The bail application is set to continue on Friday, July 25. Meek remains in custody.