Babysitter Charged With Manslaughter For Baby’s Death

Donna Banner, 22, the babysitter of a 2 year old baby, Vernice Rodriguez who died from head trauma, was arraigned on a charge of manslaughter yesterday in the #4 Magistrate’s Court.

Banner, a resident of Ladyville, was charged almost 14 months after Rodriguez died. No plea was taken from Banner because the offence is indictable. She was offered bail of $6,000 which she met, and her case was adjourned until August 23.

The incident occurred between May 7 and May 18, 2008. The Police reported that they visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital on Sunday, May 18, 2008 and they saw baby Vernice with bruises to her back and abdomen and there were burns on her feet. A post-mortem examination revealed that the baby died from head trauma and indications are that she was beaten in her head with a blunt object. Haydon Rodriguez, the father of the baby said he left her in the care of Banner because he operated a bar in Cayo. He said his daughter was left in his care because he made a verbal agreement with her mother that when she reached 9 months of age he would be responsible for her.

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