Forty-year-old Gavin Towler who allegedly caused the death of his reputed wife was ordered remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
The construction worker of 153 Middle Road, La Penitence was told that he was not required to plead to the indictable charge of murder.
It is alleged between October 13 and 19 at his Middle Road, East La Penitence home, he murdered Samantha Marques. The unrepresented Towler, who declined to say anything, was later escorted out of the court by a policeman.
The case was transferred to Court Three for November 20.
Prosecutor Kevin London stated that on October 13 during the night, Towler placed a pillow over Marques’ face while she was in bed and continuously dealt her punches about her body. After some time he stopped.
Marques subsequently noticed that she was not recovering from the beating and went to the hospital on October 16 and was treated and sent away.
The prosecutor noted that after this, Marques continuously complained to several relatives about feeling unwell so she returned to the hospital on October 19, where she was admitted and subsequently died.
The prosecutor noted that a post-mortem report obtained several days after her death had stated that she died as a result of blunt trauma, subdural hematoma(bleeding into the space between the dura {brain cover} and the brain itself), and a fractured hip.
He noted that prior to her death, Marques had a pregnancy.
Towler was later arrested, told of the allegation and cautioned.
He said that Towler had refused to give the police a statement and an investigation was launched which resulted in him being charged.