The mother of 23-month-old Khristha Knutt may not be allowed to attend her daughter’s funeral today as she remains in police custody.
The mother and her boyfriend, a member of the Coast Guard, were detained on Monday after the child was electrocuted in what police believe was a botched attempt to resuscitate her.
Police had also arrested two teenagers who were in the house.
According to police reports, the child was electrocuted after the relative used live wires from a fan to try to resuscitate her after she was found unresponsive around 2.30 am on Monday.
When Khristha was not revived she was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Dr Janet Charles, of the mortuary, referred the case for a forensic examination after she noticed strange marks near the toddler’s nipples and overheard a mortary attendant saying that someone had tried to shock the child.
An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes revealed the toddler died from head injuries and electrocution.
Yesterday, the mother’s attorney, Fareed Ali, filed a writ of habeas corpus at the High Court and served it on the Office of the Commissioner of Police and the Office of the Attorney General, challenging the continued detention of his clients.
Ali said the mother of the child had been unlawfully and wrongfully kept against her will without any reasonable or probable cause and added that she should be immediately released.
the uneral service for baby Khristha is expected to take place today at 2 pm at the St Rose Funeral Home, Tunapuna.