Strangled with a shoelace — this is how police believe a nine-year-old girl died on Maitland Beach, allegedly at the hands of her father’s girlfriend.
The Gqeberha woman accused of killing the child and leaving her body on the beach after an outing, brought a formal bail application in the city’s magistrate’s court on Friday.
Lesley-Ann Damon, 25, of Bloemendal, is accused of the premeditated murder of Quinisha Sebrant, on March 28.
Damon indicated to the court on Friday that she intended to plead not guilty to the charge, and opted not to disclose her reasons.
The court heard that Damon collected Quinisha from her father, Quinton Goodman’s Bethelsdorp home at about 8am that day, supposedly for a hair appointment in Cleary Park.
Colonel Rio Kriel, who was standing in for the investigating officer in the matter, told the court that he had full insight into the docket which contained a confession statement allegedly taken from Damon hours after she handed herself over to police.
This was in addition to a pointing-out statement, witness statements and other evidence.
Kriel said in her confession statement, Damon allegedly first pointed out to the police the place where little Quinisha’s body had been left.
She then allegedly admitted that she had taken the child to the beach and not to the hairdresser. .
Damon allegedly told police that Quinisha went for a swim.
While the child was in the water Damon allegedly removed the laces of her own takkies.
When Quinisha returned, she told Damon she was hungry.
The pair then went to ask for food at a nearby house.
On their return to the beach, Quinisha ate and got dressed, and Damon allegedly grabbed the child and started strangling her.
According to Kriel, Damon said in her statement that she let go of Quinisha when she started screaming and struggling.
She then allegedly strangled her for a second time with the shoelace until the child stopped breathing.
Damon then allegedly put the shoelaces back in her takkies and walked to the Seaview police station, intending to hand herself over.
But when arrived at about 8:35pm the police station was closed.
She then approached a patrolling security officer and allegedly told him that she had done something terrible and hurt a child.
The police were called and Damon was taken to the Kabega Park police station, where she allegedly confessed to the murder before accompanying police to the scene.
She was then arrested and has been in custody since.
In her affidavit, read out in court by her defence attorney, Mpumelelo “Bond” Nyoka, Damon said she had been in a relationship with Goodman since 2018 and had fallen pregnant later that year.
When she told him about the pregnancy, he allegedly reacted negatively and in January 2019 she went to Dora Nginza hospital for an abortion, which she said had a lasting effect on her wellbeing.
She claimed she had the abortion to make Goodman happy and that he was, on occasion, emotionally and mentally abusive towards her during their relationship.
Kriel told the court that he was under the impression that Damons allegedly killed Quinisha because of a grudge she had against Goodman over the abortion and reported emotional abuse.
Nyoka asked the court to consider that Damon was a first-time offender, that she was not a flight risk and did not pose a threat to witnesses should she be released on bail.
Kriel said he did not believe she should be allowed bail because members of the community were out for blood and it would be in the interests of justice to keep her in custody.
The hearing was postponed to Monday for a continuation of evidence before arguments are heard.
HeraldLIVE
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