Emily’s stepdad hospitalised

MARLON KING, stepfather of four-year-old Emily Anamanthodo who is charged with her murder, had to be taken to San Fernando General Hospital for emergency treatment after enraged prisoners savagely beat him in the prisoners’ cells at San Fernando Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

So severe was the beating, King remained warded under police guard and failed to keep his court appearance before deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington.

King, 33, of Batan Drive, Marabella was charged with Emily’s murder on May 15. When King’s matter was called yesterday, court prosecutor Harricharan Kassie told Wellington when King was placed in the courthouse prisoners’ cells, he was beaten by his cellmates.

Kassie requested an adjournment saying King’s injuries were severe enough to warrant a visit to hospital.

Both Court and Process Police and Prison Officers had to intervene to save King from further injuries.

Officials at the court refused to comment on the incident when asked what caused the beating. Wellington adjourned the case to June 12.

Emily’s mother — Anita Anamanthodo, 18 — yesterday reappeared before Wellington to answer five charges of wilful child neglect and had an additional wilful neglect charge laid against her.

The magistrate once again refused Anamanthodo bail and remanded her into custody at the Women’s Prison in Golden Grove, Arouca.

Anamanthodo’s attorney Ravi Gooljar, told Wellington he should consider granting bail to his client since she was not charged with Emily’s murder, but child neglect.

“The child was left in the care of a gentleman which turned out to be the perpetrator.

He was charged with willfully killing a child but she (Anamanthodo) was not charged for that,” Gooljar told the court.

Kassie objected saying Anamanthodo’s house was destroyed by fire and that she had no fixed place of abode. Kassie also said there was a grave “societal concern” of letting Anamanthodo out on bail.

Gooljar, replying to Kassie’s objection, told the magistrate that Anamanthodo, if given bail, would stay at the home of her mother Chandradaye Basdeo. “How often do you see these things happening,” Gooljar asked.

In the end, Wellington denied bail and remanded Anamanthodo into custody to reappear on June 9.