Accused: I have no money for a lawyer

SEAN BOYKE, a 32-year-old security guard, appeared before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magis-trates’ Court yesterday charged with murdering his one month-old baby daughter Kimberly. Boyke had to sit through 90 minutes of testimony in the Piarco Airport corruption inquiry before his case was called. When he appeared before the Magistrate, Boyke appeared dazed at what was happening around him. Boyke is accused of killing Kimberly at Prizgar Lands in Laventille last Saturday. The charge was laid indictably and he was not called on to plead. The charge was laid by Cpl Irvin Fournillier of the Besson Street CID.

When questioned by Mc Nicolls, Boyke said he had no lawyer. When asked if his family had retained the services of a lawyer, Boyke said he did not know. His father, who was seated in the court earlier, disappeared and could not be found. “I have no money to pay for a lawyer,” Boyke told the court. He asked for a legal aid lawyer to represent him. He was advised by the magistrate to apply to the Justice of the Peace for a lawyer. The preliminary inquiry could not go on anyway. Court prosecutor, acting Insp Kenneth Cordner, said the State was not ready. He told the court the State would be ready on the third occasion.

The inquiry was then adjourned to December 15. Boyke was arrested over the weekend following the death of his baby girl.  It was alleged that Kimberly was left in the care of a man while her mother went to a nearby shop. On her return, the baby was lifeless and had injuries to the back of the head and back. The baby was rushed to the Mount Hope Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. A post-mortem performed by pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes revealed that Kimberly died as a result of blunt force injuries. Boyke was subsequently arrested and charged.