Court hears of trauma suffered by Chatsworth mother
The neuro-psychologist who has assessed Baby X's mother believes the woman can understand and recognise abuse but does not have the cognitive capacity to do anything about it.
Dr. Rosanne Hardy took to the witness stand in the Durban High Court and was questioned by defence lawyer - Murray Pitman earlier.
The mother and Baby X's grandmother are accused of the murder of the three-year-old Chatsworth girl in 2014.
Hardy told the court that Baby X's mother would have been unable to exercise appropriate judgement and reasoning because of a severe brain injury she suffered during a car accident in 2001 and substance abuse which started in 2009.
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Hardy believed this would have impaired her ability to carry out her role as a mother.
Hardy says irrational behaviour is typical of someone who suffers from a brain injury.
She also referred to trauma the Chatsworth mother experienced as a child including alleged rape at the ages of six and 16 as well as abuse during her pregnancy as possible contributing factors.
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