Days after a baby girl was beaten to death, a 17-year-old boy yesterday appeared in court charged with her murder. The teenager appeared in the Children’s Court in Fyzabad charged with the murder of 15-month-old Racquel George on April 11.
The baby was discovered unresponsive by her mother, SRP Charlene George, when she returned to their Palo Seco home after work. The mother took her baby to the Siparia Health Facility where she was pronounced dead on arrival. An autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre revealed the baby died from blunt force trauma. The teenager was arrested the day after the incident and subsequently charged by PC Linton Lutchman of Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region 3.
The media was not allowed into the court as the matter was held in camera because the accused is a minor. The charge was read to him by Master Candice Cielto-Jones, who asked him if he understood the charge. The teenager said he understood it.
Defence attorney Shiva Boodoo presented the teenager’s birth certificate, which showed he turns 18 in August. State attorney Rebecca Trim Wright handed over a summary of the evidence, the notice to prisoner and a criminal record for the teenager to his attorney. Boodoo said although the criminal record listed a marijuana possession charge as pending at the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court, the teenager was put on a bond in that matter. Boodoo asked for additional disclosure, including the autopsy report. Cielto-Jones asked that the Children’s Authority conduct a psychological assessment on the teenager and submit a report to the court.
The teenager’s uncle was the only relative inside the courtroom. The teenager was remanded into custody at the Youth Training Centre and the matter adjourned to May 22.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Boodoo said he was disturbed by media reports the baby was sexually assaulted.
“That is misleading and inaccurate,” said Boodoo, who said there was absolutely no evidence to support that allegation.