The Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court heard new evidence regarding the injuries suffered by 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, which has raised numerous questions surrounding his untimely death. The court proceedings unfolded during the bail application of his mother, Tiffany Meek, who has been at the centre of the investigation since the boy was reported missing on May 13.
Jayden-Lee’s lifeless body was discovered the following morning, prompting immediate inquiries into the circumstances surrounding his death. Investigating officer Sergeant Linda Duma provided chilling testimony, detailing several visible injuries that were observed on the child’s body, including a cut to the forehead, a wound on the chin, and bruises on the neck, arms, and right leg. Alarming details also revealed blood found on his lips.
During the court session, it was disclosed that, after initially locating his body, Jayden-Lee’s family sought medical assistance, but he was tragically declared dead on arrival at the hospital. The investigation took a decisive turn when a police dog, deployed at the crime scene, detected fluid on a white pillow in the mother’s apartment, which appeared to be blood. The pillow has since been sent for DNA testing to establish a conclusive link to the deceased.
Court photographs revealed Jayden-Lee’s school bag and books, alongside a red Royal College school jacket and shoes neatly stored in a cupboard. Defence lawyer Noven Naidoo contended that the blood detected was simply “more of a smudge than blood spatter,” attempting to downplay the incriminating evidence against her client.
Sergeant Duma recounted a timeline of events on the morning following Jayden-Lee’s disappearance, suggesting discrepancies in Meek’s statements about her whereabouts. Notably, he highlighted how she would have encountered her son’s body had she retraced her steps to her flat shortly after he was last seen.
The case took an even more tumultuous turn with Duma’s assertion that Meek did not cooperate during the police investigation, including attempts to mislead officers when they sought to search her apartment. Testifying further, Duma rejected Meek’s claims that police required a search warrant to pursue her son, labelling it “unheard of.” Witness accounts described Meek delaying her return home even after being informed of her son’s tragic fate, raising further suspicions about her involvement.
This case is poised to unfold under the scrutiny of the community, as the full extent of Jayden-Lee’s injuries will soon be confirmed by forensic pathologist experts set to testify in the upcoming trial. As the court proceedings adjourned, Meek was seen blowing kisses to her family, a scene that evoked sadness amid the ongoing tragedy.
The case, which has captured public attention, will continue tomorrow as both the prosecution and defence await further testimony amidst mounting questions about accountability and justice for young Jayden-Lee Meek.