The police in South Africa has arrested and arraigned a woman identified as Evelyn Jacobs for the murder of her 7 months old baby. According to reports, Evelyn murdered her child in a bid to rid the baby of every evil living within her. in the bid to rid her of evil. Evelyn believed her baby was possessed by demons and had gone on to torture the child for 2 days in a bid to perform an exorcism. According to investigating officer, Detective Constable Kgositsile Taolo ; “According to the testimony of a witness who wishes to remain anonymous, on October 12, 2016, the accused (Jacobs) and a friend, Veronica, went to Welcome’s shanty on October 12 last year. Jacobs had her seven-month-old baby with her at the time,” Taolo told the court. “When they arrived at the shack, Welcome said the child was possessed by evil spirits. The mother concurred and the two accused then beat the child with open hands across her body and head. “Welcome also took a Bible and started hitting the child with the Bible on her stomach. Later that night, the child could not sleep as she was in pain,” said Taolo. “The witness said the next morning, she was woken up by the baby’s cries. When she looked at where the child and the mother, as well as Welcome, were sleeping, she saw them hitting the child with their open hands. “She asked the two accused to stop, as they were hurting the child and could end up killing the baby. “They, however, continued and she (the witness) took the child. As she was about to leave with the child, Welcome grabbed the infant by the feet. “A tug over the infant then ensued. The mother came and assisted Welcome and the two successfully managed to get the child away (from the witness). “The mother then placed the child on the bed and handed Welcome a rope, which she instructed him to hit the child with.
“Jacobs took off her slippers and hit the child with the shoes. The child was crying and the witness again tried to take the child, but was unsuccessful.” Taolo continued saying Jacob then took a leather whip and hit the child with it, unable to stop the abuse, the witness left the shanty to cry. “The mother followed her and told her not to worry about the child as they saw that the child was not human but a snake.” “The witness went back into the shack and saw the child lying on the floor. She again asked the accused to leave the child alone. She told the mother that they had to feed the child and tried to give it milk. As she was feeding the child, the mother took the bottle and poured the milk out. “She then mixed some salt and water and gave it to the infant. The child refused to drink the salt mixture. The mother again beat the child and Welcome took the jug containing the salt water mixture and poured it onto the child’s face. “The child then stretched out her hands and kicked as the water was poured onto her face. The mother said that it was a sign of evil spirits and that she was sticking out her tongue like a snake. The mother told the witness to step away from the child, warning her that she would suck her blood. “She then took the child by the feet and placed her on the stoep (a veranda in front of a house), close to a dog which was on a chain. The witness again took the child, fearing that the dog might bite the child. However, the mother grabbed the child and hit her over the head,” he said. “The mother took a bucket with water and put salt, as well as cleaning agents, into the water. She mixed all the ingredients together and bathed the baby in it. When she took the baby from the bucket, the child’s body was stiff and foam was coming from her mouth. The police and an ambulance were then called,” he said.Meghan Kleinsmith, Jacobs’ legal representative, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail but, Magistrate Cornelia Voster denied Jacobs’ bail application. The case was postponed till later this month. 
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