A woman was yesterday remanded to prison on a child endangerment charge after she told a city court that she dumped her baby on a road because she did not want the child anymore.
The court of city magistrate Faith McGusty heard that on September 20, at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Jewel Coats, 35, by commission or omission willfully endangered a child in contravention of the Protection of Children Act 2009.
Coats initially pleaded guilty to the charge but later changed her plea to not guilty.
Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman, who objected to bail, told the court that on the day in question at around 7.30am, a family member of the accused, unknown to Coats, followed her as she proceeded with the baby through West Ruimveldt.
According to the prosecutor, the family member said that as she was walking behind Coats, she observed the mother throwing her baby onto the road and proceeded to leave the child there. She said that at the same time a dog, which was on the road, started approaching the infant and the mother then turned back, picked up the baby and ran away.
Blackman related that the family member said that she ran behind Coats and found her at a corner once again throwing the child again on the road. This time she left the baby behind, the prosecutor said. According to Blackman, the family member later picked up the child and reported the matter to the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost.
He said the mother was later contacted by police ranks and was told of the allegations and she remained silent. The prosecutor said Coats was later taken into police custody and hence the present charge.
When Coats was asked by the magistrate why she left her baby on the side of the road, she said that she does not want the baby anymore.
The mother also explained to the magistrate her frustrations and cited problems with the baby’s father.
The prosecutor reported that the baby is in custody of the woman’s family.
After Coats’ not guilty plea, the magistrate eventually remanded her to prison and set October 3 for the next hearing.
