Zephany Nurse’s kidnapper believes that she is a mother by nature and did no wrong.
The woman‚ who snatched baby Zephany from her sleeping mother at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town in 1997‚ still believes that she never committed a criminal offence.
This emerged during sentencing proceedings at the High Court in Cape Town on Monday. The 51-year-old has already been convicted of kidnapping‚ fraud and contraventions of sections of the Children’s Act.
The woman‚ who cannot be named‚ claimed that she had been given the baby – evidence rejected and described earlier in the trial as “astonishing” by Cape Town Judge President John Hlophe.
Clinical psychologist Mark Steyn presented a report into her criminal conduct in mitigation of sentence on Monday.
He said that even now‚ prisoners were asking her to nurture them. “ was of the opinion that she has not committed any offense‚” Steyn testified.
“But that she is guilty of raising the child. She has maintained that she has been a good mother to her and that this should be acknowledged by the parties. described herself as a mother by nature. She loves children‚ children just love her.”
But the state dismissed Steyn’s report as flawed. Prosecutor Evadna Kortje said that he had failed to deal with the woman’s motivation to commit the crime and whether she was likely to re-offend.
“My concern is that this accused keeps on giving information that is contrary to the findings of this honourable court‚” said Kortje.
“She mentions that she was the primary victim in this matter. She has been convicted. She is mistaken to think that she is the primary victim.”
The kidnapper has always maintained that a woman only known as Sylvia gave her the child but failed to provide further details.
“You are not dealing with the accused’s most important parts. You do not deal with her manipulative nature. She lied to her husband that Zephany Nurse was their child. She doesn’t have remorse‚” Kortje told Steyn.
The hearing continues.
'I love kids. I'm no criminal': Zephany Nurse kidnapper
The woman‚ who snatched baby Zephany from her sleeping mother at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town in 1997‚ still believes that she never committed a criminal offence.
This emerged during sentencing proceedings at the High Court in Cape Town on Monday. The 51-year-old has already been convicted of kidnapping‚ fraud and contraventions of sections of the Children’s Act.
The woman‚ who cannot be named‚ claimed that she had been given the baby – evidence rejected and described earlier in the trial as “astonishing” by Cape Town Judge President John Hlophe.
Clinical psychologist Mark Steyn presented a report into her criminal conduct in mitigation of sentence on Monday.
He said that even now‚ prisoners were asking her to nurture them. “ was of the opinion that she has not committed any offense‚” Steyn testified.
“But that she is guilty of raising the child. She has maintained that she has been a good mother to her and that this should be acknowledged by the parties. described herself as a mother by nature. She loves children‚ children just love her.”
But the state dismissed Steyn’s report as flawed. Prosecutor Evadna Kortje said that he had failed to deal with the woman’s motivation to commit the crime and whether she was likely to re-offend.
“My concern is that this accused keeps on giving information that is contrary to the findings of this honourable court‚” said Kortje.
“She mentions that she was the primary victim in this matter. She has been convicted. She is mistaken to think that she is the primary victim.”
The kidnapper has always maintained that a woman only known as Sylvia gave her the child but failed to provide further details.
“You are not dealing with the accused’s most important parts. You do not deal with her manipulative nature. She lied to her husband that Zephany Nurse was their child. She doesn’t have remorse‚” Kortje told Steyn.
The hearing continues.
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