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South African kidnapper of baby Zephany Nurse guilty | South African kidnapper of baby Zephany Nurse guilty |
(35 minutes later) | |
A South African woman has been found guilty of kidnapping a two-day-old baby in 1997. | A South African woman has been found guilty of kidnapping a two-day-old baby in 1997. |
Police accused her of fraudulently claiming to be the girl's biological mother since snatching her from a hospital in Cape Town. | Police accused her of fraudulently claiming to be the girl's biological mother since snatching her from a hospital in Cape Town. |
The 50-year-old woman was arrested last year after suspicions were raised when there was a similar-looking girl at the child's school. | The 50-year-old woman was arrested last year after suspicions were raised when there was a similar-looking girl at the child's school. |
DNA tests then proved that the two girls were sisters, police said. | DNA tests then proved that the two girls were sisters, police said. |
More updates on this and other stories from Africa | More updates on this and other stories from Africa |
The kidnapped girl's parents, Celeste and Morne Nurse, called her Zephany, but the name she grew up with has not been revealed to protect her identity. | The kidnapped girl's parents, Celeste and Morne Nurse, called her Zephany, but the name she grew up with has not been revealed to protect her identity. |
The convicted woman has also not been named for similar reasons. | The convicted woman has also not been named for similar reasons. |
Zephany had been living with the accused, near the Nurse family's home in the Cape Flats, a mainly working class neighbourhood in Cape Town, when she was found last year. | Zephany had been living with the accused, near the Nurse family's home in the Cape Flats, a mainly working class neighbourhood in Cape Town, when she was found last year. |
A nationwide search in 1997 failed to find her. | A nationwide search in 1997 failed to find her. |
'Fairytale' | |
In her evidence, the accused woman said she believed she had legally adopted the child after her own pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. | In her evidence, the accused woman said she believed she had legally adopted the child after her own pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. |
She said she was handed a new-born baby at a busy railway station by a woman called Sylvia, who cannot be found. | She said she was handed a new-born baby at a busy railway station by a woman called Sylvia, who cannot be found. |
She also said that she had signed adoption papers, but they have been lost. | She also said that she had signed adoption papers, but they have been lost. |
Giving his verdict, Judge John Hlophe described the defendant's account as a fairytale, South African media report. | Giving his verdict, Judge John Hlophe described the defendant's account as a fairytale, South African media report. |
'Baby was crying' | 'Baby was crying' |
Mrs Nurse broke down when she testified at the start of the trial. | Mrs Nurse broke down when she testified at the start of the trial. |
She said Zephany was her first daughter, and she was 18 when she gave birth to her via a caesarean section at Groote Schuur Hospital, where the world's first human heart transplant was done in 1967. | |
She denied giving the accused permission to take her daughter from a ward. | She denied giving the accused permission to take her daughter from a ward. |
"My baby was crying and I saw a person dressed in maroon clothes standing by the door. She asked if she could pick up the child," Mrs Nurse said. | "My baby was crying and I saw a person dressed in maroon clothes standing by the door. She asked if she could pick up the child," Mrs Nurse said. |
"I was in pain and under medication. I fell asleep. Next thing I remember is the nurse asking where my child was. | "I was in pain and under medication. I fell asleep. Next thing I remember is the nurse asking where my child was. |
"We ran around looking for the child in every floor of the hospital. The baby was gone. Nowhere to be found. I thought it was a joke," Mrs Nurse said. | "We ran around looking for the child in every floor of the hospital. The baby was gone. Nowhere to be found. I thought it was a joke," Mrs Nurse said. |