(Trinidad Express) Guyanese national Kamaldeo Singh, charged with beating his two-year-old stepson, Etean George-Smith, to death, appeared before a Port of Spain magistrate yesterday.
He told the court he did not want any legal representation in this case.
Singh, 20, was taken to court around 10 a.m. in a heavily tinted Hyundai Tucson SUV. At 10.45 a.m., he stood before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar.
The courtroom was empty except for five friends and relatives of Davina Rani-Rooplal, the mother of the murdered toddler.
The charge read by Chief Magistrate Ayers-Caesar stated that the alleged offence occurred between October 19 and 22 at Freddie Street, Aranjuez.
Singh was not called upon to plead.
“Do you have a lawyer, sir?” the magistrate asked.
Singh replied: “No, ma’am, I won’t be getting a lawyer.”
The magistrate then adjourned the matter to November 4.
Prisons Commissioner John Rougier said yesterday he would decide if Singh will be housed away from other inmates because of concerns Singh may be targeted by other prisoners.
“We will assess the situation and determine if he would need special attention. If so, he will be given special attention to ensure that he is protected if we do anticipate some threat.”