The trial against a San Fernando mother charged with beating her ten-year-old daughter failed to start yesterday because the woman's lawyer was absent. Gabrielle Emptage, 26, was remanded to the Women's Prison to reappear in court on Monday. No explanation was given for the absence of defence attorney Shawn Teekasingh.
On Monday, San Fernando?Sixth?Court magistrate Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds rejected Teekasingh's request for bail, denying Emptage bail for a third time. The magistrate said she did not want to risk any interference with the child if the mother got bail.
However, Ramsumair-Hinds set the matter for trial for 1 pm yesterday. But Teekasingh was not present when the matter was called at 1.30 pm. Saying she did not view Teekasingh's absence as discourteous, the magistrate said it was unlike the attorney not to inform the court he would be absent or to ask another attorney to hold for him.
Emptage, an electrician, of Cross Crossing, San?Fernando, is accused of beating her daughter on October 12 and 14, resulting in bruises on the child's face, neck and arm. Emptage's mother is fighting for custody of her two children. The matter is before the Family?Court in?San?Fernando.
