The police officer investigating the murder of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek does not want the accused in the case, his mother Tiffany Meek, to be granted bail as he fears she could be harmed.
Sergeant Nceba Diko told the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that he is opposed to Meek being granted bail for her safety.
Meek, 31, is applying for bail after being arrested on Friday, July 11, for the May murder in Fleurhof, a day after she was reported missing.
Diko’s cross-examination by defence lawyer Noven Naidoo in Meek’s bail application commenced on Wednesday morning, with the investigating officer expressing his fears that Meek will be harmed or killed outside should she be released on bail.
“For her own safety, it’s not safe outside. Prisons are safe spaces for people to be there when they are supposed to be there,” he said.
Diko was responding to Naidoo’s questions on why he maintained that his client should remain behind bars.
He said he was also unwilling to accept that Meek can live with her mother due to the safety concerns.
“Is your contention that in SA, an accused is safer inside?” asked Naidoo.
In response, Diko said only in certain circumstances, but was firm that outside is not safe for Meek.
He said the public outcry was the main reason for insisting that Meek should not be granted bail, as he feels she will be harmed if released.
“My main reason is her safety outside, she will never be safe outside,” Diko explained.
In addition, he warned that if Meek is released, court proceedings may not be able to continue as she was likely to be harmed.
Naidoo also asked Diko why he had suggested that Meek provide an alternative address outside of Gauteng in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, where father lives.
However, Diko denied asking for an address outside the province.
“When I received the address, I had never asked for an address before,” he said.
Diko added that he was unwilling to accept that Meek can live with her mother. Naidoo asked why a warrant of arrest was issued when Meek volunteered and was willing to hand herself over.
Diko said that was not the way police conducted their duties. “Given the chance, she can be a flight risk,” he maintained.
Naidoo also wanted to establish why Diko did not allow his client to call her legal representative following her arrest.
Diko said he offered her the phone but she said no. “All she wanted was to smoke a cigarette,” he said.
The bail hearing will continue on Friday.
