In a tense session at the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court, the investigation into the heart-wrenching murder of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek faced new revelations as the investigating officer, Sergeant Linda Duma, countered several assertions made by Tiffany Meek, the boy’s mother, who is currently seeking bail. The court was once again drawn into the dark details surrounding Jayden-Lee’s tragic death, with Duma taking the stand to clarify the facts of the case.
Sergeant Duma’s testimony delved into critical discrepancies in Tiffany’s affidavit, which she presented during a previous hearing. Central to the investigation is the grim timeline of events leading up to the discovery of her son’s lifeless body on July 14. Duma highlighted that Tiffany had returned to her residence at the Swazi Place complex around 4 a.m., leaving just after 5:30 a.m., a mere hour before her son’s body was found by local residents.
In her affidavit, Meek claimed that police had not documented her son’s school bag on May 14, a statement starkly contradicted by Duma, who confirmed that photographic evidence clearly showed the bag had indeed been captured. Furthermore, Meek suggested that police had neglected to investigate a security flat where ‘sniffer dogs’ reacted; however, Duma refuted this by stating that there were no security guards residing in a flat at the complex.
Meek’s claims also extended to her assertions that the issue of the school bag had only emerged on May 16 when police reportedly retrieved it. Duma elaborated on his proactive role as the investigating officer, indicating that he personally went to the site after the bag was left behind. His team found essential items within the bag, including a lunch box and school books, which ultimately assisted in the timeline that indicated when Jayden-Lee had gone missing.
Countering the narrative that police might be attempting to frame Meek, Duma firmly rejected the notion, asking rhetorically, “Why would we frame?” He underscored that their investigative processes were thorough and systematic, denying any suggestion of misconduct in the investigation.
The court also heard disturbing details about the nature of Jayden-Lee’s death as Duma referred to the post-mortem findings, which indicated he had suffered blunt force trauma to the head. The report detailed various injuries including deep skull haemorrhaging and significant bruising, with Duma emphasising the absence of any defensive wounds. He explained the time-consuming nature of collecting and analysing evidence, illuminating the complexities involving forensic investigations, which necessitated a careful approach to ensure a solid case could be built against Meek.
This chilling case continues to unfold.