Police were still taking statements yesterday from relatives of 23-month-old Khristha Knutt, who died from head injuries and electrocution in what police believe was a botched attempt to resuscitate her.
Police told the T&T Guardian last evening that all four members of the household where the incident took place remain in custody and have been questioned.
Police have so far detained the child’s 23-year-old mother, 33-year-old stepfather, a member of the Coast Guard, and two teenagers, an aunt and an uncle, of the dead child.
Investigators said that during the interrogation one relative said he saw in a movie someone resuscitated by shock therapy and tried it out.
The officers said they intend to consult further with forensic pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes to determine which of the two listed causes of death on the post mortem report would have contributed more to the death of the toddler.
According to the autopsy report, the child died as a result of blunt cranio cerebral trauma and electrocution. Evidence of injuries to three separate places on the child’s head were found. Her brain was also swollen and there was also evidence of her choking on food particles.
Police said yesterday they have not yet classified the death as murder.
According to police reports, the child was electrocuted at her Upper Erica Street, Laventille home, after a relative used live wires, cut from a fan, to try to resuscitate her after she was found unresponsive around 2.30 am Monday.
When the child was not revived she was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Hospital sources said that her body was already cold when she was brought in for treatment.
The T&T Guardian was informed that were it not for the suspicion of the Casuality Department’s house officer, Dr Janet Charles, the baby’s death would not have been fully investigated. Sources said Charles noticed what appeared to be scratches near the child’s nipples and overheard a mortuary attendant saying that someone had tried to resuscitate her at home. Charles examined the body closer and saw what appeared to be rectangular shaped impressions on the child’s chest.
As a result, hospital authorities called in the police and a forensic examination was ordered.