Rhondor Dowlat Rostant
The two children who reportedly witnessed the death of their relative last Friday outside their home at Catalina Courts, in Maraval, are currently in the care of the T&T Police Service’s Victim and Witness Support Unit (TTPSVWSU) in conjunction with the Children’s Authority.
This has been confirmed by the authority’s director Nichola Harvey-Mitchell.
Harvey-Mitchell, in a release, said the authority intervened “to provide support to the children who witnessed the death of a relative at the weekend.”
She added: “The authority is collaborating with the Victim and Witness Support Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and is working with the family to provide a safe and stable environment for the children”.
“The authority believes that keeping children safe is of paramount importance and is encouraging families and the national community to work together to ensure the safety and well-being of children, so they can achieve their full potential,”Harvey-Mitchell.
She added: “While the authority is the agency mandated with the responsibility to provide care, protection and rehabilitation to the nation’s children, the authority cannot do it alone. The authority will continue to meet with stakeholders, including faith-based, community-cased and non-governmental organisations to collaborate in the best interest of the nation’s children
On Monday, a female relative of the minors reportedly escaped from the the St Ann’s Mental Hospital. She had been taken there after Friday’s incident for psychiatric evaluation
Last Friday, evening the 41-year-old woman was taken into police custody after she was allegedly found near the body of John Smith at a house in Maraval.
Investigators said they found her to be uttering strange things and after consultation with their legal team, a decision was made by the Police Service to send the woman to the St Ann’s Hospital for evaluation.
An autopsy is yet to be conducted on Smith’s body.
Smith, 70, was chairman of Maritime General and Fidelity Finance.
PC Martin, of the HBI Region One, is continuing investigations.
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