Tiffany Meek denies knowledge of son's death in Johannesburg trial

The 32-year-old faces murder charges after her 11-year-old son was found dead at their Fleurhof residential complex in May 2025.

Tiffany Meek, 32, maintained her innocence during proceedings at the Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday, denying any involvement in the death of her 11-year-old son, Jayden-Lee.¹⁴ Meek told the court she had no knowledge of how her child was brought into "this tragic death" and said she intended to use the trial to vindicate herself and uncover the truth.⁴

Meek faces charges of murder, crimen injuria, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.¹³ The state has withdrawn a charge of child abuse, citing insufficient evidence.¹ She has pleaded not guilty to all remaining charges.¹⁴

Jayden-Lee was reported missing on the evening of 13 May 2025 after he failed to return home from school.⁴ His body was discovered the following morning next to a stairway at a residential complex in Fleurhof, where he lived with his mother.¹⁴ He was declared dead on arrival at hospital, with the cause of death determined to be consistent with blunt force head injuries.⁴

According to the state, Jayden-Lee was struck with a blunt object.¹ His blood was allegedly found on his bed and school uniform, and investigators believe the scene was staged to mislead them.¹

In a detailed plea explanation presented to the court, Meek argued that the state's case was based largely on circumstantial evidence.⁴ She maintained there was no direct evidence linking her to the alleged crimes and that the inferences drawn by the prosecution were not the only reasonable conclusions.⁴ Meek told the court she had spent the afternoon and evening of 13 May attempting to find her son, contacting transport officials, family members and others.⁴

Meek has been denied bail, with the state indicating that witnesses are available.¹