Horror child abuse trial postponed

Horror child abuse trial postponed

By Khethiwe Mabena Published:Jun 19, 2008

The court case against the adoptive mother of 21-month-old Tammy Herman, who died in what was called one of South Africa’s worst child abuse cases, was postponed by a Johannesburg magistrate yesterday.

Zaibunisha Herman is accused of the child’s murder and three counts of assault to do grievous bodily harm.

The case was postponed to next month for further evidence in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

Baby Tammy died in January 2006 shortly after being admitted at the Garden City Clinic.

The toddler had been severely battered and bruised with 12 broken ribs, liver and brain damage when her parents brought her to the clinic.

Her adoptive parents, Herman and her husband Donovan, rushed the child to hospital after she had began having seizures and had started to vomit excessively.

She died shortly after arrival at the hospital.

The Hermans adopted Tammy when she was four-months-old. Her adoptive mother has since pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The state alleges that the assaults started when the baby was seven-months-old and continued up until she died.

It is further alleged that the woman adopted the child in order to save her marriage.