Justice for Krisley Dirker: Stepfather sentenced to 20 years for toddler's brutal murder
Robin Clarke was sentenced by Judge Vuyokazi Noncembu in the Gqeberha High Court on Friday for killing the helpless toddler in October 2013.
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Thirteen years after 19-month-old Krisley Dirker was beaten from head to toe over several months, leaving her tiny body battered and bruised before she slipped into a coma and died from her injuries, her stepfather has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars.
Robin Clarke was sentenced by Judge Vuyokazi Noncembu in the Gqeberha High Court on Friday for killing the helpless toddler in October 2013.
Krisley’s mother, Kristen Clarke, was also sentenced.
She received a five-year suspended sentence and correctional supervision after being found guilty of child abuse and neglect.
The court found she failed to protect her daughter while the abuse continued over several months.
Robin had been living with Kristen in Lorraine, Gqeberha, after she broke up with Krisley’s biological father around June or July 2013.
Neighbours later told how they heard a small child screaming inside the home, then a man’s voice shouting at her to “shut up”.
That man was later identified as Robin.
During the day, little Krisley was left in Robin’s care while her mother was at work.
On October 10 2013, the badly injured toddler was taken to a medical facility in Westering by Robin.
She had about 30 injuries from head to toe.
Doctors tried to save her, but could not.
She was rushed to Livingstone Hospital.
After surgery, she was transferred to Dora Nginza Hospital, where she died a week later.
The girl was christened a day before her death.
Some of the harrowing injuries little Krisley Dirker sustained
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According to the death registry, the toddler weighed 11.6kg and measured 84cm in height.
The report noted that while her general physique and nutrition appeared normal, her body bore a significant number of injuries ranging from surgical wounds to widespread bruising and abrasions.
The most prominent injury was a 35mm sutured surgical wound on the left side of the head, accompanied by several other large scrapes and abrasions across the scalp and forehead.
It also highlighted internal bleeding in the lips and a healing tear inside the mouth, along with bruising on the forehead, chest, and ears.
The report further detailed extensive haemorrhaging under the fingernails of almost every finger on both hands. In addition to these marks, there were numerous bruises and scrapes found on the arms and legs.
Medical intervention was also evident, with needle puncture marks and bruising located in the bends of the elbows, the wrists, and the groin area.