Emotional medical staff tell of toddler’s injuries

While doctors and nurses at the Medicross centre in Westering were trying to revive a 19-month-old toddler with severe head injuries, the man who brought her in allegedly burst into the procedure room and told medical staff the little girl was fine and he wanted to take her home.

This, as the bruised and unresponsive little girl was in dire need of emergency medical care.

However, despite the best efforts of the Medicross staff, and doctors at the Livingstone hospital, Krisley Dirker succumbed to her injuries a week later in October 2013.

The recollection of events leading up to the toddler’s death was so traumatic that more than a decade later, nursing staff were still brought to tears while testifying about the condition and treatment of Krisley.

This testimony was heard in the Gqeberha high court on Thursday where Robin and Kristen Clarke stand accused of murder, child abuse and neglect, and failing to provide a child with medical care.

Krisley was Kirsten’s biological daughter.

Between September and October 2013, Kristen left her daughter in Robin’s care during the day while she was at work.

During that period, the child sustained a series of injuries, and she ultimately died on October 17 2013, from severe blunt-force trauma to the head.

However, the defence claims that the toddler’s injuries were caused by a hard fall.

Sister Maritza Buys told the court that she was on duty at the Medicross centre on October 10 2013, when other medical staff called her into a procedure room to assist with Krisley’s emergency treatment, and she was shocked to see the condition of the 19-month-old girl.

“Her forehead was twice the size of a normal child’s.

“It was the largest hematoma I had ever seen in my life,” Buys said, becoming emotional and openly crying as she responded to state advocate Marius Stander’s questions.

She said countless children had passed through the medical centre during her time there and she had never seen such severe injuries.

“My first thought was that this child was abused. This is one case I will never be able to forget,” Buys said.

While she did not identify Robin as having come to Medicross with Krisley, she confirmed that the man who brought the toddler in  opened the door to the procedure room, wanting to take the little girl home.

The statement caused a collective gasp from the public gallery.

“He said: ‘Can I take her home? She will be fine.’

“Afterwards the receptionist removed him from the procedure room,” Buys said.

Earlier, Dr Karl Muller, also from the Medicross centre in Westering, gave testimony on the condition of the toddler when she came to the centre on October 10.

He said she was completely unresponsive and her breathing was abnormal.

There was no break in the skin to indicate that a sharp object had caused her injuries, and the only conclusion was blunt-force trauma.

He said there was evidence of severe intercranial pressure, most likely caused by bleeding on the brain.

Muller said she was subsequently transferred to Livingstone Hospital for further emergency care where she succumbed to her injuries.

The trial continues.

The Herald