A Gqeberha couple accused of murdering a 19-month-old child made a brief appearance in the city’s high court on Friday after one of the defence attorneys was unable to attend proceedings.
And when Robin and Kristen Clarke return to court on Monday, it will only be until the lunch adjournment, as Kristen has “responsibilities pertaining to her children” that she needs to attend to that afternoon.
The couple face charges of murder, child abuse and neglect, and failing to provide a child with medical care after Kristen’s toddler daughter, Krisley Dirker, died from severe blunt-force trauma to the head in October 2013.
Over a two-week period leading up to the little girl’s death, Kristen left her in the care of Robin while she was at work during the day.
On October 10 2013, Robin took Krisley to the Medicross centre in Westering, claiming she had a bad fall at their home in Morningside.
The child’s body was covered in bruises, and medical staff at the centre testified earlier this week that the child had a severe hematoma on her forehead and was completely unresponsive, most likely due to intercranial pressure and bleeding on the brain due to massive head trauma.
They also testified that the injuries she had suffered did not correspond with a child simply falling.
Krisley was taken to Livingstone Hospital and later transferred to Dora Nginza Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries a week later.
State advocate Marius Stander was expected to call more medical staff as witnesses to testify about what transpired on the day Robin brought the toddler to the Medicross centre.
However, proceedings were cut short when Robin’s defence advocate Deon Erasmus was “indisposed” and could not attend court.
Before the matter was postponed, Kristen’s defence advocate Johan van der Spuy indicated to the court that his client would only be available for proceedings until the lunch adjournment on Monday.
He said Kristen had an urgent appointment related to one of her children that she needed to attend.
The trial will only sit on Monday and Tuesday next week as judge Vuyokazi Noncembu will not be available for the remaining three days.
Robin is out on R10,000 bail and Kristen on R2,000 bail.
The Herald
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