A neighbour of murdered seven-year-old Sheldean Human on Tuesday told the Pretoria High Court that she had seen the girl in the company of her alleged killer, Andrew Jordaan, shortly before her disappearance.
Maria de Beer said Sheldean was playing with Jordaan on the pavement outside when she saw them at about 6pm on February 18 2007.
She said she had been ”disturbed and shocked” when she heard Jordaan telling the little girl that she was ”forward” for her age.
She understood the remark to have a sexual connotation.
Jordaan has pleaded not guilty to Sheldean’s murder, abduction and rape.
The little girl’s decomposed body was found in storm-water ditch near a fresh produce market 15 days after she disappeared.
Jordaan denied guilt to charges that he had, between June 2006 and February 2007, repeatedly raped and indecently assaulted another seven-year-old girl. He gave no explanation to his plea.
Sheldean’s mother, Elize Human, testified that her only child had played at a friend’s house that day and she had briefly seen her at the commune about 6pm, but could not find her anywhere when she started looking for her an hour later.
Dressed in a pink T-shirt with the photo of her daughter’s face on the front, Mrs Human said she later went to Jordaan’s house after hearing that he might have been with her daughter. Jordaan told her he had left the girl at the commune.
The hearing continues. — Sapa