(Trinidad Express) Allan Thomas appeared in the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with the murder of his one-year-old son, Jacob Monroe, sometime be-tween November 18 and 21. The baby’s body was discovered in a cesspit at the family home at Santa Rita Trace, Maracas Valley, St Joseph. The child died from a beating to the head.
Thomas, 27, was also charged with attempting to commit suicide on November 19 at the same address. Thomas, who is unemployed, appear-ed before Senior Magistrate Cheryl Ann Blake.
His attorney Fareed Ali made an application under the Mental Health Act, stating that if Thomas did in fact attempt to commit suicide, he should be referred to the St Anns’ Hospital, Port of Spain for evaluation. Ali stated that if sent to prison, Thomas could be a threat to himself, and asked that the magistrate commit Thomas to the St Ann’s Hospital.
However, the magistrate did not grant the request.
Ali submitted that while the court could not direct the prison authorities on where to house Thomas, he wanted to place it on record that he requested that the prisoner be kept in isolation in prison.
