The High Court trial of Kevin Rankin, who was accused of murdering his two-year-old niece, began yesterday before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
The indictment against Rankin, called ‘Lil Man,’ is that on October 21st, 2013, at South Haslington, East Coast Demerara, he murdered Kimani Phillips.
Phillips died at the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she had been rushed by relatives after she collapsed at her home after a sudden bout of diarrhoea. Stabroek News had previously reported that based on the report of the post-mortem examination, Phillips had been sexually abused, resulting in her anus becoming dilated. As a result, the cause of death was listed as haemorrhaging and shock caused by multiple abdominal injuries.
Relatives had said that the toddler would usually be left at home with her grandmother, Diana Graham, while her mother was at work. However, on the day of her death she was left in the care of Rankin.
The case is being presented by State Counsel Narissa Leander and Tuanna Hardy, while Rankin is represented by attorney Sandil Kissoon.
The trial is expected to continue on Monday.