A Coroner’s Inquest into the death of two-month-old Daquan Shepherd is being conducted by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The incident surrounds the July 9, 2012 death of Shepherd at a day care centre in Kitty, Georgetown.
Yesterday the owner of the day care and a teacher testified.
A Coroner’s Inquest is conducted by a magistrate and heard by a jury of a minimum of three persons and no more than five.
It is an enquiry into the cause of an unexplained, sudden or violent death.
In the inquest, the Coroner [Magistrate], reviews statements of the witnesses which are also heard by the jury. At the end of the inquest and deliberations a determination is made as to whether anyone is criminally liable for the death.
Among the determinations of the inquest are: when the death occurred, where, what caused the death and then the jury’s decision of whom and if anyone is criminally liable for the death.
If from the inquest anyone is found to be criminally liable, the file is sent within seven days to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice. After that, there will be a determination as to who is to be charged by the police.
