THE Kingston couple who was convicted of concealment of death in relation to their two-year-old son, last Thursday received 12-month sentences in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.

Alphanso and Stephanie Warren of Chisholm Avenue in Kingston were sentenced by Magistrate Maxine Ellis to 12 months each on charges of concealment of death and failure to bury the body of a child, which they had pleaded guilty to earlier. However, the charges are to run concurrently.

The couple reportedly migrated to Jamaica in 2009 after they were convicted on child abandonment charges in Canada and their five children were put in state custody. According to reports in the Canadian media, the couple left their eight-month-old daughter on a frigid stairwell in Toronto. The child was found face down and bleeding.

On January 15, the couple was taken into custody and later charged by the Jamaican police after the body of their son, Jeshurun, was found in a suitcase in an abandoned room at their home. The child's body was found by angry neighbours who had stormed the couple's home after concerns were raised about the whereabouts of the infant.

The death was said to be as a result of food poisoning, but Government pathologist later reported that the child died from natural causes.

According to one family member of the Warrens, the couple lives in isolation and does not interact with their family. The family said the Warrens held odd views in that they do not believe in modern medication and eating certain foods.

The court, on a previous mention date, also heard that the child was delivered at home and was never taken to see a doctor. Added to that, the court was told that Alphanso, on several occasions, tried to prevent health officials from entering their home.