Latest update July 27th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 21, 2012 News
St. John’s, Antigua – Michelle Duncan, the Guyanese woman who allegedly hid her baby in a freezer after delivery, has pleaded guilty to concealment of birth.
Duncan appeared in the High Court on Friday, before Justice Richard Floyd. She however pleaded not guilty to the more serious charge of infanticide.
Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Armstrong, however, asked that the charge (infanticide) be kept on the indictment pending a decision on whether to proceed with a trial on that count.
The woman’s advocate, Attorney Steadroy Benjamin told the court that he has made several attempts to have Duncan evaluated by a psychiatrist.
Benjamin said an evaluation of his client is important to verify what “acted on her mind then” so the court can be properly apprised of all the facts before passing sentence.
Armstrong said a psychiatric evaluation would be of no use to determine what Duncan’s mental state was at the time of the incident. He said the report can only speak of her ability and frame of mind at this point in time.
The court has ordered that a Social Inquiry Report into Duncan’s background be complied and presented to the relevant parties in time for her sentencing hearing on March 16.
Duncan is out on $10,000 bail and the DPP made no objections to the bail continuing.
It is alleged that between August 10 and 21, 2006, Duncan caused the death of her child by failing to clamp the umbilical cord.
Reports are that the woman, after having given birth to the 10-pound baby boy, secretly disposed of the baby in a freezer in her Bendals home.
The concealment of the dead infant reportedly occurred between August 21, 2006 and July 18, 2007.
Allegations are the Guyanese woman’s 13-year-old daughter discovered the dead body in two garbage bags after going to the freezer to get meat. The teenager reportedly told a friend and the police were later informed of the incident.
Duncan was taken into police custody on July 18, 2007 and subsequently charged.
(Antigua Observer)
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