Latest news with #Jayden
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Activists protest outside Parliament, demand justice for murdered child, 11
Jayden-Lee Meek was murdered outside his home after failing to come home on 12 May 2025. Image: Supplied At their own expense, a Johannesburg-based women's rights organisation has travelled to Cape Town to picket outside Parliament in a desperate bid to force the police to take decisive action in the brutal murder case of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek. The Women Empowerment Platform (WEP), led by founder Natalie Solomons, joined local activists and community leaders in calling for justice after Jayden-Lee's body was found just metres from his home in Fleurhof, Roodepoort. The organisation is urging Parliament and the Portfolio Committee on Police to prioritise the case and ensure that an arrest is made. 'We got involved in the Jayden case because it's a child who was murdered in the very community we serve,' said Solomons. 'I still can't get the picture of how he was found that morning out of my head. It was a very evil sight to see – I don't know how somebody can do that to a little boy. I'm a mother. There's no way I could turn away from this. That's why we travelled from Johannesburg to Parliament. We want action. Someone needs to be held accountable.' Jayden-Lee went missing on Tuesday, 12 May 2025. He was last seen being dropped off by school transport at around 3.30 pm at the Swazi Court complex, where he lived. According to his mother, who works from home, Jayden never made it inside the flat. His body was discovered the following day, just two metres from their doorstep. He was rushed to Discovery Hospital, where he was declared dead. Anti-gender based activists picketing outside parliament demanding justice for slain Jayden-Lee Meek Image: Supplied According to witnesses, his body was still warm when found, indicating he may have died shortly before being discovered. What followed has sparked outrage. Community members say police and forensic teams only arrived after residents had already begun searching for Jayden's school clothes and bag. According to community members, the crime scene was neither secured nor barricaded, and no arrests have been made more than two weeks after his death. Community activist Althea Cluff, among the first to raise the alarm, said she fears the case will simply fade away. 'We are afraid this case will be buried like so many others — that it will become another cold case.' Solomons and Cluff were livestreaming from the scene on TikTok the day Jayden's body was found, demanding urgent action from authorities. The Women Empowerment Platform, established in 2020, runs a children's home called Legacy Children's Home and a gender-based violence (GBV) facility in Northcliff, Johannesburg. The organisation currently houses over 10 children rescued from abusive environments. 'We see these horrors daily,' said Solomons. 'One of the girls we're housing now is 11, the same age as Jayden, and she was raped (and sodomised). But Jayden's case hit differently. That picture of his body lying there... As a mother, I just couldn't turn away.' Following pressure from activists, a meeting was held on 27 May at Parliament with MP Dereleen James. The delegation submitted a formal request for a sitting with the Portfolio Committee on Police and was granted permission to hold a peaceful picket. The case has since drawn national attention, with South Africans from multiple provinces donating to support the efforts of the self-funded group. But what the activists want most, is justice. 'We are not going anywhere until there is justice,' said Cluff. 'Jayden deserves that. All our children do.' The community continues to call on SAPS, the Ministry of Police, and Parliament to ensure that the investigation proceeds swiftly, transparently, and with the urgency it deserves. Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, confirmed that the committee had unanimously supported the call for a dedicated meeting to address Jayden-Lee's death and the broader policing challenges it exposes. 'This follows a formal request sent to me yesterday by committee member Dereleen James MP,' said Cameron. 'We will ensure that the necessary accountability mechanisms are activated without delay. South Africa's children deserve better, and we will act accordingly.' [email protected]
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
How Crosetti Brand is representing himself at trial for child's slaying: ‘You don't have to call me ‘bro'
Representing himself while he stands trial on murder charges, Crosetti Brand was in the middle of heatedly arguing that he was receiving an unfair trial when the judge stopped him. 'One second,' Cook County Judge Angela Petrone said. 'You don't have to call me 'bro.'' Brand, 39, is charged with murder, attempted murder, home invasion and aggravated domestic battery in a March 13, 2024 attack that killed 11-year-old Jayden Perkins and seriously injured his pregnant mother. During the first two weeks of an expected three-week trial, prosecutors called more than two dozen witnesses, all together painting a searing picture of the killing at the family's apartment in the 5900 block of North Ravenswood Avenue. After a series of harassment and threats made to Jayden's mother, Brand barged into the home and stabbed her over and over. When Jayden tried to intervene, Brand stabbed him as well, according to prosecutors and state witnesses. All the while, Jayden's younger 5-year-old brother watched the attack unfold. Brand, though, made the unusual decision to forgo a licensed attorney and launch his own defense – a choice that, at times, has brought an air of peculiarity to the otherwise tense and emotional proceedings. His choice to represent himself has impacted the trial in a number of ways. Because Brand demanded a speedy trial, the proceedings got started much more quickly than is typical for murder trials, leaving prosecutors to rush to expedite evidence production and prepare witnesses just a little over a year after the attack. It also meant that Brand has been able to question his alleged victims, grilling Jayden's mother, Laterria Smith after she told the jury what happened that day. Pausing for the long weekend, the trial will resume Tuesday. On Wednesday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Brand apologized to the judge for calling her 'bro' but continued to argue, as he has repeatedly throughout the lead-up to the trial, that he is being treated unfairly. 'That's sandbagging, judge,' Brand said, when prosecutors provided him with a certified copy of records that were previously tendered. 'Regarding the word cheating, I find there is no cheating,' Petrone responded, outside the presence of the jury. 'Regarding the word, sandbagging, I find there is no sandbagging.' Brand, who argued during a brief opening statement that he was defending himself when Jayden was killed, comes into the courtroom each day with a short-sleeve, button-down shirt and large stacks of paperwork. He takes notes as witnesses testify. His cross examinations are mercurial: At times, he has begun a line of questioning, then seems to change his mind, telling the judge he has nothing further. Other times, he has displayed odd quirks while examining witnesses. More than once, he has inserted random Spanish words into his cross. 'You can just say 'police,'' Petrone said, when Brand appeared to be stumbling over the Spanish word of 'policía.' Brand has won on some issues, though. He often objects by arguing that prosecutors are leading the witness, meaning they are asking a question in a way that presumes a specific answer. Petrone has sometimes agreed, telling prosecutors to rephrase their question. In other instances, though, she has told Brand the question was proper. During the trial's first week, his ability to question the people who suffered due the attack has appeared to cause distress to witnesses and family members watching proceedings from the gallery. When she took the stand on May 12, Smith did not make eye contact with Brand, answering his questions as she turned her head slightly away. Among a litany of questions about their relationship, he asked her whether she told police they had been involved in a relationship. 'I did mention it,' she said. Brand also peppered Smith's former fiance, Kassidy Miles, about his romantic relationship with her. Miles, who lived with Smith, Jayden and his 5-year-old son, had testified that he received a call at work from the boy to tell him Jayden had been killed. While questioning Smith and Miles, Brand was rebuked by the judge for trying to ask questions about Smith's romantic history with other men, which Petrone said violated the state's rape shield law. After Brand finished questioning him, Miles walked off the witness stand, left the courtroom and bent over in tears. Smith, Miles and other witnesses described the brutal attack, often struggling to make it through the difficult testimony. Smith testified that she dated Brand in high school, but had recently rekindled their relationship in the months leading up to the stabbing. She said she tried to break it off as Brand grew more controlling. He bombarded her with calls and texts, so she reported the harassment to authorities, Smith said. Brand was sent back to prison for violating the terms of his release after serving a sentence for an attack on another woman. But one day before the attack, Smith was notified by an automated message, she said, that Brand had been released. The controversial decision by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board led to the resignation of two members and spurred Gov. JB Pritzker to create a new position on the board. Lawmakers this week also advanced a bill that would emphasize domestic violence awareness training for members of the state's Prisoner Review Board. Brand has a criminal record against Smith and other women that includes attacks, threats and violations. As the trial moved into its second week on Monday, the proceedings grew more technical, with detectives, evidence technicians and crime lab personnel attesting to evidence production and preservation. One detective testified that he arrested Brand after the attack, finding him at an apartment and taking him into custody after Brand crawled out of the unit on his stomach. 'Did the door to unit 211 eventually open?' the prosecutor asked the detective. He responded that it took about a minute. 'Objection, speculation,' Brand said. 'That's overruled because the detective was there and witnessed it,' Petrone responded. Petrone has been attentive to Brand, often trying to ensure he has enough time to look through his notes and prepare himself for questioning. The court has allowed him to receive daily transcripts of proceedings and prosecutors have at times helped set up videos that he wanted to show to witnesses – things that a defense attorney would generally handle. She pointed that out during a particularly frustrated exchange with Brand as he continued to argue after she already made a ruling. 'Is it about the same issue you put on record twice already?,' Petrone asked, adding that the court has made 'sure you have everything you need to have a fair trial.' 'The court believes you are getting a fair trial,' she said.
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Chicago Tribune
‘You don't have to call me ‘bro': How Crosetti Brand is representing himself at trial for child's slaying
Representing himself while he stands trial on murder charges, Crosetti Brand was in the middle of heatedly arguing that he was receiving an unfair trial when the judge stopped him. 'One second,' Cook County Judge Angela Petrone said. 'You don't have to call me 'bro.'' Brand, 39, is charged with murder, attempted murder, home invasion and aggravated domestic battery in a March 13, 2024 attack that killed 11-year-old Jayden Perkins and seriously injured his pregnant mother. During the first two weeks of an expected three-week trial, prosecutors called more than two dozen witnesses, all together painting a searing picture of the killing at the family's apartment in the 5900 block of North Ravenswood Avenue. After a series of harassment and threats made to Jayden's mother, Brand barged into the home and stabbed her over and over. When Jayden tried to intervene, Brand stabbed him as well, according to prosecutors and state witnesses. All the while, Jayden's younger 5-year-old brother watched the attack unfold. Brand, though, made the unusual decision to forgo a licensed attorney and launch his own defense – a choice that, at times, has brought an air of peculiarity to the otherwise tense and emotional proceedings. His choice to represent himself has impacted the trial in a number of ways. Because Brand demanded a speedy trial, the proceedings got started much more quickly than is typical for murder trials, leaving prosecutors to rush to expedite evidence production and prepare witnesses just a little over a year after the attack. It also meant that Brand has been able to question his alleged victims, grilling Jayden's mother, Laterria Smith after she told the jury what happened that day. Pausing for the long weekend, the trial will resume Tuesday. On Wednesday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Brand apologized to the judge for calling her 'bro' but continued to argue, as he has repeatedly throughout the lead-up to the trial, that he is being treated unfairly. 'That's sandbagging, judge,' Brand said, when prosecutors provided him with a certified copy of records that were previously tendered. 'Regarding the word cheating, I find there is no cheating,' Petrone responded, outside the presence of the jury. 'Regarding the word, sandbagging, I find there is no sandbagging.' Brand, who argued during a brief opening statement that he was defending himself when Jayden was killed, comes into the courtroom each day with a short-sleeve, button-down shirt and large stacks of paperwork. He takes notes as witnesses testify. His cross examinations are mercurial: At times, he has begun a line of questioning, then seems to change his mind, telling the judge he has nothing further. Other times, he has displayed odd quirks while examining witnesses. More than once, he has inserted random Spanish words into his cross. 'You can just say 'police,'' Petrone said, when Brand appeared to be stumbling over the Spanish word of 'policía.' Brand has won on some issues, though. He often objects by arguing that prosecutors are leading the witness, meaning they are asking a question in a way that presumes a specific answer. Petrone has sometimes agreed, telling prosecutors to rephrase their question. In other instances, though, she has told Brand the question was proper. During the trial's first week, his ability to question the people who suffered due the attack has appeared to cause distress to witnesses and family members watching proceedings from the gallery. When she took the stand on May 12, Smith did not make eye contact with Brand, answering his questions as she turned her head slightly away. Among a litany of questions about their relationship, he asked her whether she told police they had been involved in a relationship. 'I did mention it,' she said. Brand also peppered Smith's former fiance, Kassidy Miles, about his romantic relationship with her. Miles, who lived with Smith, Jayden and his 5-year-old son, had testified that he received a call at work from the boy to tell him Jayden had been killed. While questioning Smith and Miles, Brand was rebuked by the judge for trying to ask questions about Smith's romantic history with other men, which Petrone said violated the state's rape shield law. After Brand finished questioning him, Miles walked off the witness stand, left the courtroom and bent over in tears. Smith, Miles and other witnesses described the brutal attack, often struggling to make it through the difficult testimony. Smith testified that she dated Brand in high school, but had recently rekindled their relationship in the months leading up to the stabbing. She said she tried to break it off as Brand grew more controlling. He bombarded her with calls and texts, so she reported the harassment to authorities, Smith said. Brand was sent back to prison for violating the terms of his release after serving a sentence for an attack on another woman. But one day before the attack, Smith was notified by an automated message, she said, that Brand had been released. The controversial decision by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board led to the resignation of two members and spurred Gov. JB Pritzker to create a new position on the board. Lawmakers this week also advanced a bill that would emphasize domestic violence awareness training for members of the state's Prisoner Review Board. Brand has a criminal record against Smith and other women that includes attacks, threats and violations. As the trial moved into its second week on Monday, the proceedings grew more technical, with detectives, evidence technicians and crime lab personnel attesting to evidence production and preservation. One detective testified that he arrested Brand after the attack, finding him at an apartment and taking him into custody after Brand crawled out of the unit on his stomach. 'Did the door to unit 211 eventually open?' the prosecutor asked the detective. He responded that it took about a minute. 'Objection, speculation,' Brand said. 'That's overruled because the detective was there and witnessed it,' Petrone responded. Petrone has been attentive to Brand, often trying to ensure he has enough time to look through his notes and prepare himself for questioning. The court has allowed him to receive daily transcripts of proceedings and prosecutors have at times helped set up videos that he wanted to show to witnesses – things that a defense attorney would generally handle. She pointed that out during a particularly frustrated exchange with Brand as he continued to argue after she already made a ruling. 'Is it about the same issue you put on record twice already?,' Petrone asked, adding that the court has made 'sure you have everything you need to have a fair trial.' 'The court believes you are getting a fair trial,' she said.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders Reveal Reason For Primetime Appearances
The Washington Commanders' meteoric rise from cellar dwellers in 2023 to media darlings and NFC Championship participants in 2024 could be due to a host of factors. The new culture, Dan Quinn's coaching, and anything in between—if we are being honest, it's down to one thing—Jayden Daniels. Advertisement The rookie quarterback who took all before him last season, as he helped transform the Commanders from a four-win team in 2023 to a 12-5 team in 2024. Because of that, the Commanders in 2025 are now seen as must-watch in the regular season, and ESPN's John Keim knows it's all down to Jayden. "Call it the schedule Jayden Daniels built," Keim wrote. "His popularity is one big reason why Washington will play five prime-time games and 10 games in what's considered a national window. The Commanders have seven national games in a row from Weeks 6-13, interrupted only by their bye -- with three night games in four weeks. It ties the record for the most prime-time games in franchise history -- they had five in 2013 and '17." Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5).Matt Kartozian/Imagn Images Washington's offseason paints the picture of a franchise that feels close to winning a Super Bowl, with trades for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel signaling their 2025 intent. Advertisement But more than that, the expected improvement from Daniels after his Rookie of the Year season, to now being a borderline star, is enough to get fans and media alike excited for what might be in store. For so long, the Commanders have been the punchline of jokes, but it has taken Quinn, Daniels, and general manager Adam Peters just 12 months to change that. The proof is in the pudding, with the Commanders being on prime time in 2025 for five weeks, tying the most the franchise has ever had. And it's all down to Jayden. Related: Commanders Trade for Tyreek Proposed in Controversial Media Move Related: Commanders Win-Now Mentality Solidifies 1 Major Area
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Daily J – Announce ‘One For The Road' New Zealand Tour Ahead Of Move To Australia
Press Release – Good Intent Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland-based indie darlings Daily J have announced their ' One For The Road ' New Zealand tour before making the jump across the ditch to Australia later this year. The eight-date run will see the band bid farewell to their Aotearoa fans in style, performing in both regional and metro centres throughout June and July 2025. Kicking off in Ōtautahi/Christchurch, the band will wind their way through Ōtepoti/Dunedin, Wānaka, Tāhuna/Queenstown, Tauranga, Whāingaroa/Raglan, Ngāmotu/New Plymouth, and wrap up with a final hometown hurrah in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland. For this final lap around Aotearoa, the band is also inviting fans to help curate the setlists by submitting song requests, making each show a unique and personal celebration of the journey so far. 'This tour isn't a goodbye – it's a big thank you to the place that made us and the people who've had our backs since day one. We're stoked to dust off some older tunes we haven't jammed in years – it's gonna be a huge set. We're jumping the ditch to kick off the next chapter, but first, we want to put on one hell of a show for our home crowd,' said the band. Born in Marlborough and currently based in Auckland, Daily J – comprised of brothers Jayden, Jonny, Jesse and long-time friend Rick – have spent the past few years building a loyal following across New Zealand and abroad. With their signature blend of dreamy indie-rock textures, warm fuzzy-grooves, and pop-laced electronica, the band has made a name for themselves as one of the country's most exciting live acts. Their recent album ' Scatterbrains ' has quickly cemented itself as a career-defining release. Recent singles ' Cheap Tequila Sunrise,' ' Sunday Stitches,' and ' Tastes Like Forever ' have already resonated strongly across platforms and live audiences alike with strong support from the likes of BBC Radio 1, Spotify, Apple Music, Rolling Stone Magazine, NME, Ones To Watch and many more. With a fresh chapter on the horizon, the Farewell New Zealand Tour is a special opportunity to catch Daily J one last time on home soil before they begin their next adventure.
