Woman accused of assaulting mother and her baby

A woman accused of assaulting a mother while she was holding her four-month-old baby in her arms, causing the child to fall, was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $100,000 after appearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The allegation against Dacia Francis, 27, is that on January 8, at Georgetown, she unlawfully assaulted Stacey Worrell.

On the same day also, Francis is alleged to have unlawfully and maliciously wounded four-month-old Patricia Worrell so as to cause her actual bodily harm.

Stacey is the mother of Patricia.

Francis, of 35 William Street, Kitty, denied the charges when they were read to her by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Prosecutor, Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey said that the incidents occurred after the defendant accused Stacey of “talking her name with an overseas boyfriend.”

According to Harvey, the two are known to each other as they reside in the same building.

The court was told that an argument ensued between the two women after Francis accused Worrell of talking about her to an overseas boyfriend.

The police prosecutor told the court that at the time of the argument, Stacey was holding Patricia in her arms. During the heated argument, the court heard that the accused grabbed Worrell and began cuffing her and the baby fell to the ground and sustained injuries.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police and an investigation was launched, leading to Francis being arrested.

Attorney Patrice Henry, who represented the accused said, however, that the parties live in the same house and were exiting a conjoining door when they collided.

The lawyer then made an application for his client to be admitted to reasonable bail, saying she had no antecedents, posed no risk of flight and had been cooperating with police investigations.

After listening to the case, the magistrate informed the mother of one that she would be admitted to bail in the sum of $50,000 on each charge.

Additionally, she was placed on a bond to keep the peace pending the determination of the matter.

The matter was transferred to Court Ten for January 24 for report and fixture.