Principal charged with unlawful killing of 2-year-old

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Sascha Wilson

A principal was charged in connection with the death of a two-year-old student who drowned in a swimming pool at her school and was remanded into custody yesterday.

Alicia Bharath, 50, who runs a speech therapy school in Couva, appeared virtually in the Couva Second Magistrate’s Court charged with the unlawful killing of Romelu Drakes on March 16.

According to a statement by the T&T Police Service, Drakes fell into a pool located on the compound of the institution.

The child was taken out of the pool but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the Couva Health Facility.

An autopsy revealed that he died from drowning.

Bharath, of Southern Main Road, Cunupia, was arrested at her home on Wednesday, following investigations by the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI), Region 3, supervised by Insp Anil Maharaj, Sgt Richardson Elvin and Sgt Alister Jones.

The principal was charged yesterday by WPC Elliot of the Central Division, following advice from the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul.

During Bharath’s appearance before Magistrate Alexander Prince, a legal issue was raised regarding the wording of the charge.

As a result, the magistrate remanded Bharath into custody and transferred the matter to the First Court for the senior magistrate to deal with the issue on Monday.

Bharath was represented by attorneys Rajiv Persad and Patrice Adolphus, while the prosecution was represented by Sgt Hope Awong.