Pretoria – In a chilling case that has horrified the nation, Hugo Ferreira, 37, has pleaded guilty to the murder and rape of his eight-day-old daughter. The details of the crime, revealed in Ferreira's plea explanation to the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, paint a picture of unimaginable cruelty and depravity.
Ferreira appeared in court on Tuesday for sentencing proceedings, where prosecutor Karla Germishuis urged the court to impose the harshest possible sentence – life imprisonment. Germishuis emphasised that Ferreira, as the baby's father, held a position of authority and trust, which he utterly betrayed.
"He abused this position and raped and murdered his own vulnerable and defenceless daughter," Germishuis stated.
The court heard how Ferreira, a resident of Carletonville, was left in charge of his infant daughter on 8 June 2023, while the baby's mother went to sell clothes to earn money for nappies. In his plea explanation, Ferreira admitted that he was "not happy" about being left to care for the child.
He told the mother to return in five minutes, and when she did not return in the allotted time, he "became angry".
Ferreira said his daughter kept on crying because she was hungry, and her nappy had to be changed.
"I panicked and was angry and frustrated because the deceased just kept on crying while I started changing her nappy."
Ferreira then confessed to grabbing the baby by the back of her neck and subjecting her to a brutal beating. "I accept this was a brutal and vicious assault, especially on such a small baby," he stated in his plea.
But the horror did not end there. Ferreira chillingly admitted that after assaulting the baby, he "decided to give his daughter something to cry about," and proceeded to rape her.
"When the mother returned, I realised that she would see that something was wrong, and I kept the baby away from her until late in the day. This was because I realised the baby was badly injured," Ferreira said.
He acknowledged that his actions in keeping the injured infant away from her mother and medical care contributed to her suffering and eventual death.
While the baby was eventually taken to a hospital, she succumbed to her injuries the following day, on 9 June 2023. A postmortem examination revealed that the cause of death was consistent with head injuries.
"At the time of beating the baby, I understood that beating such a small baby to such an extent could cause her death. I, however, reconciled myself with this possibility and continued beating the fragile baby, reckless of the consequences," Ferreira stated in his plea.
Ferreira claimed to have been under the influence of crystal meth at the time of the horrific acts. However, a psychiatric evaluation determined that his criminal capacity was not diminished, as he acted deliberately and retained a clear recollection of the events. The evaluation also confirmed that he was fit to stand trial.
Prosecutor Germishuis argued that the crime of infanticide is particularly heinous, reprehensible, and abhorrent. She highlighted the pervasive problem of abuse and killing of infants and children in South Africa, emphasising that the sentence should prioritise retribution and deterrence, with rehabilitation playing a lesser role.
"He abused this position and raped and murdered his own vulnerable and defenceless daughter," Germishuis said.
The court heard how Ferreira, a resident of Carletonville, was left in charge of his infant daughter on 8 June 2023, while the baby's mother went to sell clothes to earn money for nappies. In his plea explanation, Ferreira admitted that he was "not happy" about being left to care for the child.
The case has sparked outrage and condemnation across South Africa, with many calling for the maximum sentence to be imposed. Ferreira is scheduled to be sentenced on 14 April, and the nation awaits the court's decision with bated breath.
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