Nanny caught throwing baby into cot on hidden camera leaving child 'broken'

'What happened was horrible to witness'

Will Worley
Wednesday 20 September 2017 16:27 BST
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Nanny caught throwing baby on hidden camera

A nanny is facing attempted murder charges after being caught on camera apparently throwing a baby in her care into a cot.

Annemarie Theron set up a hidden camera in the room of her nine-month-old child, Laila, after she became suspicious of bruises on the girl’s body.

The footage shows the nanny, who was has worked for Ms Theron and her husband Johan since May, casually picking up Laila and then tossing her face down into her cot.

The baby can be heard screaming, but is ignored by the nanny, who walks out of the room.

Ms Theron said her baby has been left “broken” and having nightmares after the alleged abuse.

“It was very emotional watching it,” Ms Theron, of Namibia, said of the video to Netwerk24.

“I refused to sleep, eat or drink for a couple of days afterward. It’s difficult to imagine how long this has been going on for.

“I can see Laila is so, so broken after everything.”

After viewing the footage, Ms Theron went straight to the police.

Officers in the southern town of Outjo were reportedly reluctant to file charges prior to seeing the footage because it had been filmed covertly, but decided to immediately after viewing it.

The nanny was arrested last week and has been charged with attempted murder, child abuse and assault.

“I don’t want her near my child ever again, or to pose a threat to other children,” Ms Theron said.

“What happened was horrible to witness. I realised Laila has nightmares.”

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