Court to decide on bail for suspect in toddler drug video case
Police took the four-year-old boy to hospital for medical attention, before taking him to a place of safety.
Image: Screengrab/IOL
One of the accused who faces attempted murder charges after filming a toddler smoking drugs appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The suspect is one of four accused who also face charges of child abuse and attempted murder.
This, after the group filmed a video of a toddler smoking drugs laced with mandrax from a bottle neck. The video went viral, and the group was tracked down by community activists and subsequently arrested by police.
The mother of the child and two other men abandoned their bail application.
However, accused number two in the matter had his legal counsel argue for bail. The reasoning cited for his release was that he cooperated with the police and there was no likelihood that he would evade his trial or pose a danger to anyone.
His legal representative also argued that his client would comply with any bail conditions given by the court should he be released.
However, the State opposed the release of the suspect.
The accused in the dock.
Image: Siyabonga Sithole/IOL
The regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Phindi Mjonondwane said: “The State opposed bail due to the serious nature of the charges against the accused, arguing that the accused had a previous conviction of being possession of drugs in 2018. The state further argued that granting bail would not be in the interest of justice”.
The court has reserved judgment until Friday, August 22.
Since the arrest of the group, the young child has been moved to a place of safety.
IOL