Tuesday, February 19 2013

THE 25-year-old woman who allegedly burnt the hands of her three children as a form of punishment was yesterday warded at Sangre Grande Hospital after falling ill while in lawful custody at Sangre Grande police station.

The woman was being kept in a cell at the station when she began complaining of abdominal pains. A woman police constable on duty responded and was told that she (the incarcerated woman) was bleeding. She then disclosed to the police woman that she was “a few months pregnant.”

She was taken to the Sangre Grande Hospital and warded under police guard. At the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court yesterday, many persons gathered waiting to see the woman make her way to court. But she has not yet been charged.

The children are now at the homes of relatives. The four-year-old is staying with her father while her eight-year-old brother and six-year-old sister are at the home of grandparents. The children are said to be in good spirits as they recover from burns to their hands.

WPC Reifer is the officer in charge of the investigation and is assisted by Cpl Keith Leon of Sangre Grande CID. Reports indicated that about three weeks ago, the woman left her three children at home and went to work. When she returned she discovered cornflakes and milk missing from a cupboard.

She scolded the children and then put the hands of each child over the lighted burner of a stove. The father of the four-year-girl only saw the burns when he visited last Saturday. When he enquired as to what happened, the child said she was playing with hot oil. He sought a better explanation from the older children and also saw they had burns on their hands.

A report was subsequently made to the Sangre Grande Police Station.

The 25-year-old woman was questioned by police and later detained for further enquiries.