‘Killer stepmom must be jailed’

cape town- 141105. Cape Town - A Cape Town woman, Natash Hansen, is facing charges of assaulting and murdering her five-year-old stepson, who died of his injuries 10 years ago. She appeared in the W. Cape High Court today. She is seen here after court adjourned near the Grand Parade. Reporter: Natasha Prince. pic : jason boud

cape town- 141105. Cape Town - A Cape Town woman, Natash Hansen, is facing charges of assaulting and murdering her five-year-old stepson, who died of his injuries 10 years ago. She appeared in the W. Cape High Court today. She is seen here after court adjourned near the Grand Parade. Reporter: Natasha Prince. pic : jason boud

Published Aug 3, 2015

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Cape Town - A correctional services officer has testified that 36-year-old Cape Town woman Natasha Hansen should receive a sentence of direct imprisonment for murdering her five year old stepson.

The boy, Gershwin Isaacs, had been living with his father and stepmother for about a month as his own mother was unable to look after him. On the 28th of May 2004 he was admitted to hospital unconscious. He died in hospital.

The Western Cape High Court found Hansen guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, as well as murder in December last year.

The trial only got underway ten years after the boy’s death.

The court found that Gershwin had been beaten on several occasions. He died of a head injury on May 28, 2004, medical experts found.

Medical evidence showed that Gershwin had several injuries that suggested he had been abused and assaulted.

Sentencing proceedings finally started on Monday morning with two state witnesses recommending in their reports that Hansen be sentenced to direct imprisonment.

Hansen has been working as a softball coach at Rhodes High School in Mowbray for the past four years. She has been out on bail since the incident happened. Dressed in a peach blouse, she appeared unmoved as a correctional services officer made her recommendations to the court.

Correctional Services official Ncediswa Sentile testified that Hansen told her she earns R3 000 a month. She, however, said the mother of three has taken no responsibility for the murder and showed no remorse.

Because of the seriousness of the crime, Sentile said Hansen was not suitable for correctional supervision.

Hansen has three children, aged 10, 15 and 17 years old.

A probation officer from the Social Development department, Nkosazana Mhlahlo testified that Hansen’s 15-year-old son had told her that he had witnessed Gerswin’s death.

He had told the probation officer that he saw the little boy falling off the toilet and injuring his head.

Prosecutor Megan Blows pointed out, however, that he was only four years old at the time of the child’s death. The prosecutor also pointed out that this was the first time the court had head that Hansen’s son had witnessed the incident.

The probation officer also told the court that she had interviewed the boy’s biological mother who said she felt as if the incident happened yesterday.

The woman told Sentile that she has found it very difficult to move on. Gershwin was her only child and she had not been able to conceive another child after his death.

The court was told that the child’s mother cried uncontrollably throughout the interview.

Hansen pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial and has maintained her innocence throughout.

ANA

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