By STACY MOORE Tuesday, September 18 2012

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CHARGED: Taxi driver Isaac Samaroo, 31, leaves Chaguanas Magistrates' Court yesterday after being denied bail on a charge of beating his two-year-old ...

A CARONI man was yesterday refused bail by a Chaguanas magistrate before whom he appeared charged for beating his two-year-old daughter at his home last week Friday. Isaac Samaroo, 31, a taxi driver of Caroni Village stood before Senior Magistrate Gillian Scotland in the First Court.

The charge alleged that Samaroo, on September 14, at Caroni, willfully assaulted by beating Isabella Samaroo, occasioning severe suffering and injuries. The charge was laid indictably under Section 3(1) of the Children’s Act, Chapter 46:01.

The charge was laid by Police Constable Ronny Lee-Gopaul of the Cunupia Police Station.

The court heard that the victim, who allegedly received injuries to her face, had to be taken to receive medical treatment at the Chaguanas Health Facility and later at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope.

After Scotland read the charge, Samaroo who was unrepresented by an attorney, in a soft tone, told the court that he wanted to plead guilty. “Your honour, I ready to plead. I want to plead guilty now,” Samaroo told the magistrate.

However, the magistrate informed Samaroo that he could not enter a plea as the charge was laid indictably (must be determined before a judge and jury if a magistrate finds sufficient cause to send the case to trial). Scotland enquired from court prosecutor Sgt Deochan Gosein, about Isabella’s condition and the Sgt informed the court that she was still “severely traumatised” and is currently undergoing a series of medical examinations.

The child’s mother Rhonda Samaroo was in court yesterday. Scotland also asked questions regarding the relationship between the accused and the infant and was told that Samaroo is in fact the biological father of Isabella.

“Where does this child live?” Scotland asked. Sgt Gosein replied that the child lives with her mother on Mercer Road, Diego Martin. At this point, the accused, Samaroo told the magistrate that he is living “with someone else” in Caroni Village. Samaroo then pleaded for bail saying he was concerned for his safety if remanded. “I not feeling safe to go back in jail. Right now, two days I have not eaten anything. And I am shaking,” Samaroo said.

Scotland however, refused to grant bail and remanded Samaroo into custody, asking that a trace be carried out by police in order to ascertain if Samaroo has any matters pending before the courts and/or if he has a criminal record. Samaroo was instructed to reappear in court today when the issue of bail will be decided upon.