A 23-year-old man from Petrusville in the Northern Cape was arrested on Monday, July 25, for the brutal homicide of his three-year-old stepson.
He appeared before the local district court the next day.
Lawak Lorenzo Henzel is charged with murder, according to Mojafela Senokoatsane, a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
He was held in custody until August 2 in order to seek legal counsel and prepare a potential bail application.
According to the State and police, Henzel and the victim’s mother had an argument before the murder.
The stepfather allegedly got into a fight with the toddler’s mother, who was also his ex-girlfriend.
According to reports, the mother of the toddler returned to the suspect’s home to get her clothes, but he denied her admission, according to police spokesperson Captain Olebogeng Tawana.
Together with the mother, the police returned to the suspect’s house.
The three-year-body old’s had many stab wounds, and Henzel was allegedly found cowering under the bed before being caught.
Police are still investigating the case.