Florida child abuser pleads guilty
Cupido pleaded guilty to the brutal beating of a two-year-old boy.
Nearly a year after his arrest for the brutal attack on a two-year-old boy at a residential complex in Florida Lake in February last year, Jonathan Fernando Cupido pleaded guilty in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on January 5.
A massive manhunt was launched for Cupido, known widely as Nando, in February last year after he went on the run following CCTV footage showing him repeatedly beating and kicking the small boy surfaced online and on community WhatsApp groups.
He was finally located and apprehended at a premises in Randfontein by Florida CPF chairperson Farhaad Sardiwalla and AfriForum Roodepoort chairperson Werner Brits on February 23.
• Also read: Child abuse accused abandons bail application
The guilty plea comes after numerous court appearances and postponements over the past year.
• Also read: Florida child abuse suspect nabbed
According to the family of the young victim, who cannot be identified, the past year has been extremely traumatic.
“We have been attending his court appearances religiously, and we were really beginning to lose hope due to the repeated postponements.
• Read the initial article here: WATCH: Police launch manhunt for man who brutally beats child
“We are relieved that he has finally pleaded guilty.”
According to the prosecutor in the case, Sipho Makhubo, following the guilty plea and resultant conviction, the case was postponed to February 20 for the pre-sentencing report and sentencing.
