A South African father, Hugo Ferreira, 37, has admitted to raping and murdering his one-week-old baby daughter while his wife was out buying nappies.
The horrific incident occurred in June 2023, and Ferreira’s wife, Maureen Brand, had left him alone with their daughter to sell clothes and buy nappies.
Upon her return, Brand found their baby severely injured and suffering from physical and sexual abuse. The baby was rushed to the hospital but tragically died the following day due to head injuries.
Ferreira’s twisted motive behind the heinous crime was to “give the baby something to cry about” because he was unhappy that his wife had left him alone with their daughter ². He had ordered Brand to return within five minutes to breastfeed the infant, and when she didn’t, he became enraged.
In a chilling account of his crime, Ferreira said, “I grabbed the baby hard at the back of her neck and hit her repeatedly. In the process, I pushed her head against the surface on which I was working. I accept that it was a cruel and gruesome attack, especially on such a young baby.
Ferreira’s admission of guilt has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. His case is a disturbing reminder of the horrific crimes that can occur when individuals are driven by twisted desires and a lack of empathy.