Matter dismissed against woman accused of stealing baby

A woman who was on trial for stealing a four-month-old baby girl from her Venezuelan mother, was on Wednesday freed of the charge.

50-year-old Beverly Gomes of 30 Kildonan, Corentyne, Berbice was on trial for the offence before Magistrate Crystal Lambert at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

At the conclusion of a trial, the Magistrate ruled that the Prosecution failed to establish the elements of offence and therefore dismissed the case.

The woman, on her first court appearance, was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison.

The court heard Gomes was entrusted by the mother to take the baby to Georgetown for medical treatment. She was expected to return with the child after two weeks but she never returned.

When she was arrested, she told ranks that the mother of the child had asked her to take the baby to a hospital outside of the Cuyuni/Mazaruni, Region 7.

Gomes was even in possession of the child’s birth certificate and other documents as she journeyed from Region 7 to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation with the baby.

It was reported that Gomes took the baby to the Georgetown Public Hospital where the baby was treated and she was told to take the baby regularly to the clinic for further check-ups.

After days passed and the woman failed to return with the child, the mother of the child  reported the matter to the police. Following an investigation, Gomes was arrested and charged.