(Trinidad Express) The man accused of killing six-year-old Josiah Governor at his Laventille home last week Friday made his first appearance in the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The boy’s stepfather, 26-year-old Ronnie John, appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port of Spain Eighth Court, charged with murdering him on the afternoon of January 20 at Herman Scott Road, East Dry River.
John was brought before the magistrate shortly before 11 a.m.
Asked if he had an attorney, a female relative of the accused told Ayers-Caesar John’s family had hired an attorney on his behalf, but the attorney was not present in court.
Several other relatives of the accused sat in the public gallery and listened as the matter proceeded.
Josiah died at the Port of Spain General Hospital after he was taken there by officers attached to the Besson Street Police Station.
Less than two hours before his death, a relative had taken him to the station, stating he was not well and needed medical attention.
An autopsy performed on Monday at the Forensic Science Centre, Federation Park, St James, concluded that Josiah, a Second Year pupil at Patna Boys’ Primary School, died as a result of multiple blunt force trauma.
On Tuesday evening, Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC, gave instructions to detectives to have the capital charge laid against John, who had been in custody at the Besson Street Station since the day of the boy’s death.
He will return to court on February 23.
