Mother of Toddler Accused in Baby’s Death Details Incident

A Gqeberha High Court heard emotional testimony this week from a mother on trial for the murder of her 19-month-old daughter. Kristen Clarke, 38, took the stand on Thursday, October 16, 2025, detailing the final days of her child, Krisley Dirker, who died in October 2013.

Clarke and her husband, Robin Clarke, face charges of murder, assault, and neglect. The state alleges they inflicted fatal injuries and failed to seek medical care.

**A Mother’s Heartbreaking Testimony**

Kristen Clarke began her testimony by remembering her daughter as a happy toddler. She described Krisley’s love for chasing bubbles and her big brown eyes. Clarke then recounted the period she worked night shifts as a nurse, leaving Krisley in Robin’s care.

She recalled kissing her daughter goodbye one morning. “Mama back soon,” the little girl reportedly said while waving. Clarke stated she believed her daughter would be safe. Her voice broke as she described returning home on October 8 to find a different child.

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

Krisley was unusually quiet and not her usual laughing self, Clarke testified. She noticed purple bruises on the girl’s limbs that looked like handprints. When she asked Robin, he claimed Krisley had fallen while playing. Clarke sobbed as she told the court, “I should have rushed her to the emergency room at that moment.”

**The Final Hours**

The jury listened intently as Clarke described a desperate night. Krisley was feverish and cried constantly. Clarke sang lullabies and gave her Panado, but the child’s distress continued. The following morning, October 9, Krisley refused to eat.

Clarke said when she lifted her daughter, she noticed a swollen, tender area on her head and that the girl’s head lolled. She immediately contacted Robin, telling him “Krisley’s not right.” He reportedly responded, “She was okay.”

By that evening, the situation was critical. “She stopped breathing in my arms,” Clarke testified, clutching the dock as she wept. “Doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the floor, I yelled out for assistance. Nothing shifted in her little chest. I prayed to God, asking him to return her.”

Paramedics rushed Krisley to the hospital, where she was declared dead from severe head injuries. The trial has seen photos Clarke sent to friends showing the toddler’s bruised body. Neighbors testified to hearing continual screaming from the family’s Morningside flat.

This murder trial has cast a spotlight on the pervasive issue of child abuse in South African homes. Organizations like Childline report thousands of hidden cases annually in the Eastern Cape alone. The proceedings continue next week with the Clarkes out on bond.