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SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT BROADCAST: 13.01.09 - BABY MICHAEL

Posted on | 2009-01-09

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BABY MICHAEL CONNOR
ON TUESDAY, 13 JANUARY 2009, THE SABCS MULTI AWARD-WINNING INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARY SERIES TELLS THE TRAGIC STORY OF BABY MICHAEL CONNOR, PHYSICALLY ABUSED BY HIS OWN PARENTS, AND RENDERED QUADRIPLEGIC BEFORE HE TURNED SIX MONTHS OLD. AND OF THE STATE PROSECUTOR WHO FOUGHT TO SEE JUSTICE FOR THE LITTLE BOY.

IN NOVEMBER 2003, BABY MICHAEL CONNOR WAS ADMITTED TO THE EMERGENCY WARD OF JOHANNESBURG HOSPITAL BRUISED, BLIND AND BRAIN DAMAGED. IT WASNT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED; A MONTH EARLIER HIS PARENTS HAD BROUGHT HIM TO THE HOSPITAL, CLAIMING THE INFANT WAS INJURED AFTER FALLING AGAINST A STEREO.

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT INVESTIGATES THE STORY OF MICHAEL CONNOR, AND HOW HE WAS FAILED BY THOSE WHO SHOULD HAVE PROTECTED HIM. FIRSTLY, BY HIS MOTHER AND FATHER; WHO BOTH TOOK TURNS IN THE SUBSEQUENT COURT CASE, TO BLAME EACH OTHER. MICHAELS MOTHER, AFTER ACCUSING HER BOYFRIEND AND THE CHILDS FATHER, LATER TOLD POLICE UNDER OATH SHE HAD ABUSED THE BABY. SHE LATER RETRACTED.

THEN THERE WAS THE SOCIAL WORKER, WHO RETURNED THE ABUSED INFANT TO HIS PARENTS, AFTER HE WAS FIRST ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL.

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT SPEAKS WITH MICHAELS CARERS, WHO TRY TO HELP THE LITTLE BOY LEAD AS COMFORTABLE A LIFE AS POSSIBLE BUT WHO STATE WITH FINALITY: HIS CHANCES OF BEING NORMAL AGAIN ARE NIL.

THEN THERE IS THE JOHANNESBURG PROSECUTOR, CARINA COETZEE WHO INTERVENED PERSONALLY IN THE COURT PROCEEDINGS TO ENSURE THAT MICHAELS ABUSERS WILL ONE DAY BE PROSECUTED. COETZEE, WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE MOST HIGH-PROFILE CASES INVOLVING CHILD ABUSE THAT COME BEFORE THE COURTS, WAS PREPARED TO SELL HER HOUSE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CASE.

THE PARENTS WILL APPEAR LATER THIS YEAR ON CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ASSAULT.

MICHAELS MOTHER HAS REMARRIED AND HAS HAD TWO MORE CHILDREN SINCE ALLEGEDLY LANDING HER FIRSTBORN IN A COMA. SHE TELLS SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT SHE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE.

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT, TUESDAY 13 JANUARY 2009

THIS PROGRAMME IS PRODUCED BY BUSISIWE NTULI

Add Comment
   
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Liefie
On 2009-01-14 at 22:44
I could not believe my ears when I watched this program! I am heartbroken! Can someone really do this to their own child or any other child for that matter? These "parents" need to be locked away and should never have had more kids! How can the mother ask for a second chance? Can't she see what she has done! Doesn't she have any regret? Even if she wasn't the one that was abusing him, she still allowed it to happen, in my eyes that is just as guilty! I cannot think how you can look at michael and not want to burst into tears! I am not even the kid's mother and I felt that he needs so much love. If I could, I would give him a huge hug! Not one of these two is worth to be called a parent! I am disgusted with their behaviour and also the fact that it looks like they don't even care!

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Carmelle
On 2009-01-27 at 18:48
Stem cells are used as early as 22 days, a clump of cells that are otherwise often terminated though IVF or naturally in the body, could be grown and harvested to reverse the otherwise irreparable brain damage of Michael and many other children, who have suffered in a similar way. I'd rather that Michael had a second chance at life.

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Jennifer
On 2009-12-07 at 9:44
I didn't watch the show and got to hear from it this morning from a colleague of mine and went into your site and was shocked. I had a boy that was born disabled but he passed away on the 3rd January this year, I had him for 5 years and he was my world and I was his world. How can that mother treat this poor child like that and let the abuse go on like that. There is so many people that can't have kids that would love to have one, I would love to have my child back cause I can't explain what my child meant and did for me in my life, and I miss him very much. I hope that this mother will take the time to think about what she did to this child. These kids needs a lot of love and tender care I know, my boy was only supposed to live 2 years but he lived for 5 years just by giving him what he needed.





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