Linda Hope said in a plea bargain agreement that she never had any intention to kill her stepdaughter, Christabelle Labuschagne, but realised that she had acted recklessly and not with the necessary care, thereby causing the toddler’s death.
The tiny blonde girl was in a coma when she was admitted to the N17 hospital in Springs on March 31 last year, where she had to undergo an emergency operation to drain blood from her brain.
Her head injuries were so severe that she was declared brain dead four days later and died two days thereafter because of the severe head and brain injuries she sustained in the assault.
‘Realised she had gone too far’
Hope pleaded guilty to a charge of culpable homicide, although she was charged with child abuse and murder.
She appeared calm and did not show much emotion, in contrast to an earlier court appearance when she burst into tears on being asked why she had failed to turn up for her trial.
