KINGSTON, Jamaica — The parents of a toddler whose decomposing remains were found in a suitcase in Jamaica are facing an additional charge in connection to his death and must undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
The couple, who four years ago admitted to abandoning their infant daughter — nicknamed Angelica by aid workers — in a freezing Toronto stairwell, were charged Tuesday with failing to bury a body.
They were initially charged with concealing the death of the two-year-old on Sunday, after neighbours discovered the boy’s partially mummified remains in the couple’s home.
Supt. Steve Brown of the Jamaica Constabulary Force said both parents were remanded into custody until Feb. 21, when he expects they will try to make bail.
“His lawyer applied to the judge ... for a psychiatric evaluation,” said Brown of Tuesday’s initial court appearance.
“That will be done before the 21st of February when they return to court.”
Brown said he didn’t know if more charges would be laid, but emphasized the investigation was ongoing.
“We are continuing our investigations with our colleagues in Canada and we will take it from there,” he said.
While he declined to comment on reports that police in Canada contacted them about the couple’s history after the arrest, he said the two forces were in touch “because a similar case came out of Canada.”
Chris Tavares-Finson, a lawyer for the child’s father, said Tuesday the prosecution had made clear it planned to bring up the Canadian charges in court, but it remained to be seen whether a judge would allow those to become part of this case.
He said the psychiatric evaluation was standard “in these kinds of circumstances,” adding he has not yet decided whether there will be a bail application.
As it stands, he said, the primary charge remains that of concealment of death.
“There are no indications as to whether or not there’s going to be anything more substantial in terms of manslaughter or murder charges at this case,” Tavares-Finson said.
A pathology report into the death of the toddler suggests he likely died from disease, asphyxiation or poisoning, but added it may be difficult to determine the exact cause of death due to advanced decomposition.
It also said the child died several months ago and was found “near skeletonisation.”
Police checked up on the couple after neighbours grew suspicious because they hadn’t seen the boy for some time, but initially found nothing.
It wasn’t until the neighbours stormed the house and found the body that charges were pressed — but not before police were forced to protect the couple from what they described as a “very aggressive” group.
Local media have reported the parents blamed their son’s death on ackee, a native fruit that can be poisonous if eaten raw. But the report indicates ackee poisoning can’t be confirmed through tests.
In the Toronto case, the parents were charged with abandoning a child, failing to provide the necessities of life, assault causing bodily harm and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
Additional charges were later laid in connection with their three other children, who were all under age six at the time.
Only the father was criminally convicted but both parents pleaded guilty to a number of offences.
They moved to Jamaica after their children, including Angelica, became wards of the Crown.
The couple are not being identified to protect the identities of the children.