Dad was unaware of baby’s abuse

Devastated by the loss of his only son, one-year-old Roshan Keshan Ramrattan, Kendall Francois said he is afraid to father another child. He said while at work in Piarco, he would usually look forward to going home to play with Roshan but now the pleasure has become a painful memory. The father, who spoke at his School Trace, Gasparillo, home yesterday, struggled to contain his tears.

Francois said he was not aware his baby was being abused. A female relative was still in custody at the Gasparillo Police Station up to late yesterday. Had he known Roshan was being mistreated, he said he would have ended it. Roshan was set to celebrate his second birthday on Sunday but was instead pronounced dead at the San Fernando General Hospital on Saturday.

An autopsy by pathologist Dr Hughvon des Vignes showed he died of subdural haemorrhage and blunt craniocerebral trauma. In layman’s terms, he was beaten about the head and body. Francois, who was taken to the Gasparillo Police Station for questioning on Saturday after the child’s death, was released the same day after telling police he was at work at the time of the incident.

He said when he received a call the child was at the hospital, he did not ask why because he knew Roshan had the flu and thought he was seeking attention for that. Even as he went to the hospital, he said, he was assured the child was well and did not think he had been beaten. He said the child was in good condition on Saturday morning before he left for work.

As Roshan is laid to rest today, Francois plans to place some of his favourite toys in the casket. The funeral is expected to take place at the family’s home at 2 pm and will be followed by burial at the Bonne Aventure Cemetery in Gasparillo.