Step-dad gets 18 years for death of 2-year-old, mother acquitted

THE step-father of a 2-year-old boy has been sentenced to 18 years behind bars after his abuse led to the little boy’s death and the child’s mother received five years for abuse and neglect.

Taswell Louw was yesterday sentenced by the Western Cape High Court on charges relating to child abuse, neglect and murder of Jeremiah, known as Germia, in April 2018.

Louw was sentenced to an additional six years for the abuse of Germia’s 8-year-old sibling.

He was further deemed unsuitable to work with children and his particulars to be entered into the National Children Protection register. He is also prohibited from owning a firearm. The boy’s mother, Renzia Louw, who was acquitted of the charge of murder, was sentenced to eight years for the abuse or neglect of Germia, with five years being suspended.

She was sentenced to five years for allowing her older child to watch the assault inflicted on Germia.

It was further ordered that her children be visited once a month by a social worker while she was incarcerated, to see to their care and protection and that her name also be added to the National Children Protection register.

The State proved that Louw Taswell caused the death of the little boy and allowed his 11-year-old brother to witness while he was assaulted.

Germia had also suffered burns to his face which had been caused by boiling water.

During the testimony of the brother, it was revealed that Louw had thrown boiling water from the kettle into Germia’s face. When the child could not feed himself and began to cry, Louw bit him. The child later began to vomit and was feverish and did not receive medical attention

The boy was later admitted to hospital where he spent several months, suffering cardiac arrest among other non-accidental injuries.