Details surrounding the troubled life of the woman charged with kidnapping baby Zephany have been presented to the Cape Town High Court. A 35-page plea explanation by the woman‚ who cannot be named to protect Zephany’s identity‚ revealed that she was abandoned by her mother when she was 12‚ had to raise six younger siblings‚ suffered multiple miscarriages and was horrifically abused at the hands of a man she loved‚ her first husband.The 50-year-old woman is charged with kidnapping‚ fraud and contravention of sections of the Children’s Act charges.The relate to the kidnapping of Zephany from Groote Schuur hospital almost 19 years ago‚ when she was two days old. Zephany was reunited with her biological parents‚ Celeste and Morne Nurse‚ in February last year. Earlier‚ Celeste and Morne’s daughter‚ Cassidy‚ enrolled at the same high school as Zephany. When the two met they struck by their physical resemblance and police were called in and the investigation resumed.In the plea explanation‚ the woman says: “I was born in Cape Town and grew up on the Cape Flats in Manenberg. Domestic violence was a regular occurrence in our home. While I was attending school at the age of 12‚ my mother abandoned the common household. Since I was the oldest of my siblings‚ I took the responsibility of taking care of [them].” She had six siblings aged between six months and 10 years old.When they ran out of food a week later‚ she took the children to her grandmother‚ who invited them to stay with her. They survived on her grandmother’s income as a domestic worker.Then‚ when they had been there two years‚ the accused came home from school to find that her mother had fetched all her siblings and taken them back home to Manenberg. The siblings refused to stay with their mother unless their eldest sister could come home too‚ and so she returned to the house in Manenberg.“While living with my mother I fell pregnant. I had only had sexual intercourse once. I was 16 years old. I had no idea I was pregnant‚ and only discovered this a week prior to giving birth.“I named the baby Yolanda. Sadly my daughter died six weeks later. I recall coming home and my family telling me about the death. I was disappointed and emotional at the loss. I picked up Yolanda and held her until the ambulance arrived.“My family later relocated to Mitchells Plain and I found employment as a clerk to assist the family financially.“I met Deon in 1983. During our relationship and marriage I suffered abuse at the hands of Deon. The abuse involved him stabbing me‚ fracturing or breaking my arms‚ breaking my nose‚ and various other assaults.“I recall Deon grabbed me one day while I was on the street and locked me in his bedroom for a few days. He had sexual intercourse with me without my consent during those few days. I managed to escape with assistance from his mother. At some stage because of all the abuse I feared for my life and decided to hide from him and remain at my mother’s house. However this did not deter Deon from pursuing and assaulting me further and subsequently damaging my family home. As a result of Deon’s conduct my family and I moved to Sea Winds‚ Cape Town in 1986.“It was not long thereafter when I discovered that Deon was stalking me. Deon begged me to take him back after he apologised for his conduct. I forgave him and he moved in with us. Deon and I were married on 29 October 1988.“Not long after his reconciliation‚ further assaults were perpetrated on me. Some nights while I would sleep‚ he would cut all my hair and display it on the pillow. Another time‚ he poured water over me and electrocuted me with wires will I was sleeping.“One day he attempted to kill me by locking me in my room‚ and doused the room door with petrol. Thankfully the police arrived and he ran away. He continuously begged me for money to support his drug habit.“When I refused‚ he assaulted me. There were occasions that I could not attend work as my face was bruised badly.“One of my last encounters with Deon was while he was incarcerated at Victor Verster prison for a robbery. He begged me to visit him‚ and said I will not need to visit him thereafter. Whilst speaking to him during the visit‚ I was called over by a man who wanted to speak to me.“The man advised me not to go too close to Deon as he had a blade between his fingers and was planning to slit my throat. I advised the warders and left the prison. I approached the court thereafter for a divorce and we were divorced a while later.”After being single for two years‚ the woman began a relationship with a man named Russel.“I unexpectedly fell pregnant‚ however I lost the baby due to a miscarriage. I developed a bad infection due to the miscarriage and was hospitalised at Groote Schuur hospital."She said although she wanted to be with Russel‚ she ended the relationship because he became abusive to her young nephew‚ who she was looking after.Her relationship with her current husband began in 1994.She told him she had had previous complications with giving birth and he said she had her nephew and he had a daughter from another relationship‚ so she need not worry about having further children.However‚ she said she had fallen pregnant twice during her relationship/marriage.“On both occasions I miscarried. The first pregnancy in 1996 was unplanned‚ however‚ the second pregnancy after Zephany‚ was planned.”She said she had a “good and loving relationship” with her partner.“He treats me with the utmost respect and never abused me.”The trial continues...