Jayden-Lee Meek | Investigating officer gives magistrate reasons why Tiffany Meek should not be granted bail
Outraged community members protested calling for no bail for Tiffany Meek.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela/IOL
The investigating officer in the Jayden-Lee Meek case has urged the court not to release murder accused Tiffany Meek on bail.
The police sergeant told this to the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday as he spent his second day in the witness box.
The State is opposing Meek’s bail.
He explained he saw the likelihood of Meek evading her trial if she is released. The court also heard she may be in danger given the public outcry regarding the case.
Tiffany Meek maintained her innocence during her bail application.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL
“People do not feel safe given the circumstances of the case. If the public sees her outside… I mean, we see communities taking the law into their own hands as they see the State and judiciary failing them. Her release will disturb public peace,” the court heard.
Earlier, Meek had urged the court to grant her bail and gave her father’s address in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where she could stay until her trial commences.
However, the investigating officer stated this would be wrong to place the burden on KZN police to monitor Meek and do the job the police based in Gauteng are already tasked to do.
Magistrate Annelin Africa also highlighted that the State’s stance (of not wanting Meek released on bail, even if it is KZN) is practical because when consecutive days of court take place, she [Meek] cannot go back to Durban daily.
When asked if he had anything to add as to why Meek should not be granted bail, the officer said: “The community at times loses hope in the justice system. I hope the court considers the community of South Africa at large. They are so concerned about what happened to the child. I humbly request the court to consider that if it grants bail, the community of South Africa may lose trust in the justice system.”
When asked if he thought the community wanted to harm Meek.
“The community is angry. She was the one directing them. The community feels like she misled them, and on top of that is the anger of the murdered child,” he responded.
The matter has been postponed until Wednesday.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
IOL