Woman accused of stealing child a no-show in court
Lorna Williams, the woman charged with stealing a baby from the University Hospital of the West Indies, was scheduled to make her first court appearance today inside the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court but was not brought to court.
Her attorney, Carol Dacosta, was present and sought to have the matter called up.
However, she was told by Parish Judge Tracy-Ann Johnson that the accused was not in court and the matter was rescheduled for mention on Friday.
Dacosta told the court her intention was to make a bail application for her client.
Though told the matter was set for Friday, Dacosta sought to have the matter heard tomorrow.
BAIL APPLICATION
However, Johnson said “A date has been set for the case on Friday. There are a number of matters listed between now and Friday.”
Dacosta adhered to the judge and said she intends to make the bail application on Friday, providing her client, who she is yet to speak with, appears in court.
The respected attorney told THE STAR that she was assigned to Williams on Tuesday through the Legal Aid Council.
“Her file was submitted to the court office, however, a number was not assigned,” Dacosta said.
She told THE STAR that the wait for her client was unjust, stating that she has been charged and should be brought before the court within 48 hours.
Williams, a medical assistant, was charged with child stealing after the police found the stolen baby, Danisha Maxwell, in her care in Rollington Town, some five hours after she was reported missing last Friday.
Danisha was stolen from her mother’s cot on the postnatal ward of the hospital, after her mother fell asleep after being given medication.