A woman who said that the father of her children had taken them “somewhere,” denied the charge of child-neglect yesterday after being arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Jeheira Duke who said that she lives on Quamina Street but was unaware of the lot number is charged with neglecting her children on February 25.
The woman who said that she operates a shop in the interior told the court that she never neglected her children.
According to Duke, her children live in a house with five adults. She said that on the day in question, she had just finished bathing the children and making their porridge when their father who does not live with the children approached her and indicated that he wanted to take his children out.
The defendant said that she subsequently granted the man’s request but she was unaware of where he was planning to take them.
A tearful Duke said that some moments later, officers from the Probation and Child Welfare Department visited her at the Quamina Street location along with police who informed her that she was needed at the station since the father of the children had reported that she had been neglecting them.
Sobbing uncontrollably, Duke said that she asked the officials and police officers for a chance to explain that she had not neglected her children and that they were taken out by their father.
When asked by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry about the whereabouts of the children the accused said that she had no idea. She related that the last time she had seen her children was the day in question after their father collected them. Duke said that she believes the man had taken the children away to the interior in an attempt to “spite her.”
Meanwhile, in presenting the prosecution’s facts of the case, Police Corporal Venetta Pindar told the court that on the day of the incident, officials from the Probation and Child Protection Agency received certain information that the accused had neglected her children.
After arriving at the woman’s Quamina Street home, Pindar said that Duke was not at home and after some searches were conducted, she was found at a nearby rum shop. She was subsequently told of the allegation, arrested and charged.
After listening to the particulars of the case, the magistrate informed Duke that she would be sent on her own recognizance on the condition that she reports to Corporal Benjamin at the Alberttown Police Station on Mondays and Fridays at 5pm. matter was transferred to Court Six for March 7 for reports and fixtures.
