A man accused of chopping his five-year-old daughter in her head was yesterday granted bail in the sum of $50,000 by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry after a not-guilty plea to the charge was recorded in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Lloyd La Fleur yesterday initially pleaded guilty to a charge which stated that on February 5 at North Sophia, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Kalei La Fleur.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Lionel Harvey stated that according to the facts of the case Kalei is the daughter of the defendant and on the day in question he observed the child playing with pepper and became annoyed and dealt her a chop to her head.
The unrepresented man said that he was very sorry over the matter which he described as nothing more than an accident.
The father of four said that on the day in question he was outside his house stripping coconut palm branches to make brooms which is how he earns a living.
He claimed that he had gone into his house to put on the light when his five-year-old daughter ran past and cut herself on a knife. La Fleur said he was shocked and he asked the child’s mother to take her to the hospital while he kept the other children. According to La Fleur, when the child’s mother returned she informed him that the incident had been reported to the Child Care and Protection Agency.
La Fleur said he pleaded guilty because he had just secured a job and would be paid $100,000 a month and so he wanted to end the court proceedings.
However, the magistrate said that since he did not accept the facts of the case as stated by the prosecutor she will record a not guilty plea.
La Fleur is to return to court on May 2.
