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Haslington murder trial…Accused baby killer to know fate today
The case against accused murderer, Kevin Rankin, is set for summing up today before Justice Priya
Murder accused
Kevin Rankin
Sewnarine-Beharry at the High Court in Georgetown. Rankin is charged with the murder of his two-year-old niece, Kamini Phillips.
Phillips was allegedly sodomised by the accused at Haslington, East Coast Demerara, (ECD) on October 21, 2013. Initial reports had indicated that the toddler was left in the care of her uncle (Rankin) when she passed away.
According to reports, Diane Graham, the mother of the accused had left him at a relative’s home with the toddler, while she conducted errands. The woman returned some time later and learnt of the baby’s demise.
The child was initially taken to the CC Nicholson Health Centre at Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, before she was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Rankin called “Lil Man,” of Lot 46 South Haslington South, ECD has been on trial for the murder before the judge and jury at the High Court.
Following weeks of evidence, State Prosecutors Narissa Leander and Tuanna Hardy as well as Defence Attorney Sandil Kissoon submitted their closing addresses. Yesterday, Kissoon argued that the prosecution‘s case is flawed. The lawyer noted that no photographs of the home or alleged crime scene were produced to the court.
He further stated the police never took any statements from eye witnesses or neighbours. However the State has maintained that their case is compelling in that there is evidence which indicates that the accused inflicted the injuries on the toddler and caused her demise.
The prosecution noted that the evidence is that the accused pressed down on the victim and also penetrated her in process; this caused severe injuries to the child’s chest cavity.
Today the trial is expected to be summed up by Justice Sewnarine-Beharry and thereafter handed over to the jury for deliberations on the outcome.
Last week, while leading his defence Rankin told the court that he had nothing to do with the death of his two year old niece. The accused claimed that he did not harm his niece in any way but that she was taken to a relative’s home to play when she became sick.
According to Rankin the child complained about chest pains and became unresponsive. The accused said that the child was not breathing and his cousin, Kimani Primo, administered Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on her.
During the trial, State Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh revealed that an autopsy carried out on the body of the two-year-old indicated that she had suffered sexual penetration to her anus. He said that Phillips had fresh blood in her rectal area, in addition to abdominal trauma inclusive of internal bleeding to her liver and spleen.
According to Dr. Singh, the toddler also suffered concussions to the head and neck which are consistent with a hit or fall.
He noted that the child could have been pressed down, which restricted her breathing and the flow of blood in her chest cavity.
However under cross examination by defence counsel, the doctor admitted that the damage to the infant’s chest cavity could have been caused during administration of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) by an untrained individual. Dr Singh was among seven witnesses called to testify in the trial by the State.
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