Four-year-old girl dies in hospital, father charged with murder and rape
A four-year-old girl died in hospital after her father reportedly abused her to death.
Image: File picture
Eldorado Park police have confirmed the death of a four-year-old girl in hospital, following allegations that she was repeatedly beaten and sexually assaulted by her father.
Police confirmed the tragedy in a statement released on Friday. The case docket has been changed to murder, and an additional charge of rape has been added.
The 32-year-old father appeared in the Protea Magistrate's Court on Friday, facing charges of attempted murder in connection with his daughter.
Earlier this week, on August 6, police responded to a complaint regarding the father’s physical abuse of his child in Eldorado Park.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers were directed to a closed backyard shack. Inside, they discovered a man with a young boy and a little girl.
"They (police) noticed that the girl who was sleeping in the bed had head injuries, bruises and a swollen eye. The man who introduced himself as the father of the children could not give a clear explanation about what happened to the girl," police said in a statement.
The father was arrested, and the girl was rushed to a nearby medical care centre for treatment.
The father was later charged with attempted murder and child abuse.
Further investigation by Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit led to the arrest of the mother of the victim, who was charged with defeating the ends of justice.
IOL