21-year-old Belmont woman on sexual assault charge

A 21-year-old Belmont woman is hoping to secure bail when she reappears in court today, charged for committing grievous sexual assault. Shevon Durham of Belmont was not called upon to plea when she appeared before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor in the Port-of-Spain Seventh Court yesterday.

Durham, the mother of a two-year-old girl, was remanded in custody to allow officers to confirm an alternative address provided to the court yesterday. Durham is alleged to have committed the act against a 15-year-old girl on February 21 at Boissiere Lane, Belmont.

Represented by attorney Orrin Kerr, the court heard since the allegation was first made on Carnival Tuesday, “nothing untoward has happened between the two parties.” Appealing for bail, Kerr assured the magistrate Durham would “keep a safe distance away” from the victim for the duration of the matter.

Although Sgt Wayne Mohammed did not object to bail, he raised concerns that Durham and the victim lived near to each other and as such, it would be impossible to keep them from running into each other. Indicating her willingness to grant Durham bail, Baboolal-Gafoor rejected an offer for Durham to stay with a relative who lived close to the victim.

Adjourning the matter to today, the magistrate requested officers to verify an address for Durham’s aunt in Tunapuna, who was not present in court but indicated her ability to provide temporary accommodations to the accused while the matter continued. Wiping tears as she was led out of the court, Durham called to her sister who was seated in the public gallery to tell her daughter she missed and loved her.