Almost a month after Candice Johnson was charged with killing her baby, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is yet to receive the file from the police. Johnson, 20, of Siparia, made her first court appearance yesterday since posting bail last Thursday. She was granted bail on her second court appearance on April 16 but her family was unable to secure her bail until then. Yesterday, Johnson, dressed in a brown shirt and blue jeans, sat in the Siparia First Magistrate's Court with her father Victor Garcia, waiting for her matter to be called. When Magistrate Jo-Anne Connor called the matter, court prosecutor Sgt Dridgenath Sookraj said the file was being prepared to send to the DPP, Roger Gaspard.
The DPP must have the file in order to appoint a state attorney to prosecute the matter. Johnson was represented by attorney Ramnarine Soorjansingh. She is charged with unlawfully killing her two-year-old daughter Aliyah, on April 8 at their home on Maria David Trace, San Francique. Aliyah was pronounced dead on arrival at the Siparia Health Facility. An autopsy revealed a blow to her abdomen ruptured her liver and she bled to death. Johnson was charged by acting Sgt Stephen Ragbir.
When she left the courthouse she was embraced by relatives who were standing in front of a store opposite the courthouse. The matter was adjourned to August 21.