Durban mother sentenced to 20 years for the murder of her three-year-old daughter

A 35-year-old woman has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Durban High Court on Thursday, after she pleaded guilty to strangling and killing her three-year-old baby girl. 

Teneil Ursula Kok admitted to the court that she killed her baby, Fadillah Chantal Kok, in May 2022. She said she has four children and in her plea, she indicated that she had a traumatic upbringing, having been raped when she was 17 years old.

She described her rape as extremely traumatic. Kok said she attempted suicide twice and that she was in abusive romantic relationships. She said that after leaving her abusive relationship in 2017 with a Nigerian man named Ike she met Fadillah’s father, Hassan, who married her.

However, she said Hassan left her and went back to Somalia, and she did not know that her husband was married and had kids. 

“After Hassan left, I discovered I was pregnant with Fadillah, and he denied any claims to her,” she added. 

She said in 2018 she stopped taking her anxiety and depression medication. Additionally, Kok said she was introduced to a man (named in plea only as Hodgson), who became her husband after they married over the phone, which is permissible in Islamic faith. 

She said that in 2020, they lived happily as her husband took care of her and they had a child. She said Hodgson requested that she fetch Fadillah from her foster mother, Stephanie Jamieson. Kok had given up Fadillah to Jamieson because she could not afford to keep her and her other child. Jamieson raised Fadillah until she was three years old, and her mom took her. 

Following her husband’s request, she fetched Fadillah, but in 2020, Hodgson had to go to the UK and he was unable to come back to South Africa due to his Visa expiring. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he could not extend his Visa. Kok said it was difficult without her husband, admitting to abusing her children and hitting them with whatever was nearby.

In sentencing her, Judge Jacqueline Henriques said from the onset, Kok wanted to plead guilty but she was delayed due to medical records that had to be obtained in order for the court to be able to reach a decision. 

“The matter was adjourned on several occasions," she added. 

She said a medical report from the doctors said Kok was well in her mind when she killed Fadillah. However, she said the doctors who examined Kok indicated that she has psychotic symptoms, she is depressed, has insomnia, and sometimes gets emotional. 

“The accused comes from a dysfunctional environment, but she will learn life skills while receiving treatment in prison, where she will also see a psychologist and psychiatrist," said Judge Henriques. 

She said she does not see a reason why Kok should not have any contact with her other children.

“Should they not have any contact with her, I’m concerned they would suffer the same fate as her. No matter what she has done, she is their mother and they deserve to have a relationship with her,” she said. 

Judge Henriques said she will be treated and monitored by medical practitioners while incarcerated. 

“I accept that the accused is remorseful, she is young and capable of rehabilitation,” said Judge Henriques.

She also sentenced Kok to three years' imprisonment for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. She ordered that the sentences run concurrently and that Kok be kept in a prison that is in Durban and closer to her children. 

Jamieson, who was in court with her husband Clive, cried and said she was not satisfied with the sentence. She said Kok was not remorseful for what she did. She said she went to visit her to try and get closure. 

“I went to Westville to speak with her, but she only spoke about her feelings. I would have appreciated her telling me everything and saying Stephanie, I am sorry this is what happened. But she is too arrogant,” Jamieson said, crying.

She described Fadillah as a friendly child who loved talking. 

“She was an amazing little girl, and she could not stop talking. Whenever I would go to the shops or hospital with her, she would run and put her hands up and hug every single person,” she added.  

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za