Xavier Mitchell, a five-year-old boy, was fatally stabbed in Bishop Lavis on Wednesday morning.
The parents of the victim said that they could not control their anger and gloom as they viewed his body in the Observatory state mortuary, reports Cape {town} Etc.
Also read: Cape Town boy (5) fatally stabbed in Bishop Lavis tragedy
A mentally ill man in his forties, is the alleged suspect for the death of Xavier. The man has since been arrested and charged for the murder of the child.
The victim’s father, 45-year-old Ricardo, received the news of his sons death late Wednesday morning. At the time, he and his wife, Sylvia, were at work.
Ricardo clarified that he does not remember who had called him, as he stated that he had been overwhelmed with multiple phone calls and messages.
He received official confirmation on the passing of his son, following a phone call by the police.
‘Next thing I know, I’m making my way to the Bishop Lavis Daycare Hospital to go see my boy.’
Ricardo reportedly went numb as he saw the Xavier lying motionless on a table in the mortuary.
Both parents stated that Xavier along with his brother, Zack, had been left at their nanny’s house, down the road from their familial home.
Sylvia, Xavier’s mother, stated that the boys had been staying there during work hours for approximately 8 months and no unsettling behaviour had previously been noted.
‘We trusted her to look after the kids, so it was shocking that the man who killed my child was her brother’ Sylvia told News24.
The babysitter is alleged to have seen her brother running out of the house with a knife, upon exiting the bathroom of her home.
She further claimed that she was unaware that her brother had been running after Xavier with a knife. When she came outside, she discovered people surrounding the child’s body.
The family confirmed that they have not had contact with the nanny, since the incident occurred.
Family members described Xavier as a jovial child who had a sweet-tooth and loved smiling.
Xavier will be buried next weekend, permanently parting with his parents as well as four siblings.
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Picture: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images