A sworn testimony by Tiffany Meek – the mother of Jayden-Lee Meek – stating that she was not at home on the night he went missing, and later found dead, has been rubbished by security from her apartment complex in Fleurhof, Johannesburg.
The 31-year-old made an appearance in the Roodepoort Magistrates Court as part of her bail application. She is facing charges of murder, crimen injuria, and defeating the ends of justice.
Jayden-Lee’s body was discovered just metres away from his doorstep on the morning of 14 May. He had suffered a blunt force head injury.
JAYDEN-LEE MEEK WAS DROPPED OFF AT HOME, SAY SEVERAL WITNESSES
During the bail application, an investigating officer recounted what happened after Tiffany Meek filed a missing person’s report at the Florida police station, to the discovery of Jayden-Lee Meek’s body the next day.
The investigating officer stated that Tiffany revealed that her 11-year-old son had not been dropped off at home by his school transport on the afternoon of 13 May. This claim was disputed by the driver of the vehicle, a fellow school pupil who was also a passenger, and the security guard at her flat at Swazi’s Place.
Tiffany was accompanied by police to the home of the school transport driver, which was searched but yielded no results. Police also visited the other passenger in the school transport, who confirmed that Jayden-Lee Meek had been dropped off at home.
Police returned to the apartment complex, where the security guard on duty advised them to speak to his colleague who had been on duty earlier.
“The security guard was asked if he saw the child, and he said yes. It was during this time that the applicant (Meek) interrupted him, stating he was not telling the truth. The security guard insisted he saw him as he was the one who opened for him with the remote control,” said the investigating officer.
MOM RETURNED HOME ON NIGHT HE WENT MISSING, SAYS SECURITY
After searching Tiffany Meek’s complex just before midnight, the investigating officer stated that they would continue the search for the missing boy in the morning.
However, the nightshift security guard rubbished Tiffany’s account that she was not at home in the hours before Jayden-Lee’s death – after claiming she spent the night at her mother’s house in her sworn statement.
A security guard’s statement read: “She (Meek) returned home [in the early morning]. She entered the gate, and she was alone. She told me she was going to take a bath, change her clothes, and go back to the police station. I asked her before she went to the police station if she wanted to assist with searching vehicles parked in the complex. She agreed and went to her flat. I searched the cars.
“As I was searching at about 5.30 am, the mother of the missing child told me she could not help with searches as she was heading to the police station. I opened the gate for her and she walked away and disappeared in the dark”.
In interviews with media outlets after Jayden-Lee Meek’s death, Tiffany claimed she had stayed at her mother’s house in Florida as she was too distraught to be alone. However, in a statement read before court last week, she claimed that she slept over at her mother’s house, as it was closer to the Florida police station.
‘FRAMED’, SAYS MURDER-ACCUSED MOM
In an affidavit read by her attorney, Noven Singh, Tiffany Meek alluded to being “framed” for the murder of her son, Jayden-Lee Meek.
“I fail to understand how I am charged with murder of my son. When I was the one fighting for suspects to be found. I deny any wrongdoing and deny any offence against me,” it read.
She denied claims made in a charge sheet that police had discovered bloody evidence in her home on the day Jayden-Lee was found dead.
She also insisted that he did not arrive home from school.
“I do not fear standing trial as I believe justice will prevail,” she added.
The bail application hearing continues.
DO YOU BELIEVE THE ACCOUNT OF JAYDEN-LEE’S MOTHER, TIFFANY MEEK?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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