KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) – Chief magistrate Rechanne Browne has granted a Vincentian woman who was charged with burning the private part of a 12-year-old girl, EC$12,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) bail.

Josette Garraway, 35, who has been in custody since August 29, was granted bail with one surety, even as the prosecution maintained its objection to bail, noting that the child was still hospitalised.

The chief magistrate had ordered a medical report on the child and had set bail review for Monday. She also inquired whether other children were living in the woman’s household and if the Ministry of National Mobilisation had been notified about the case.

However, Garraway was brought back to the Serious Offences Court and the prosecution informed that it was withdrawing its objection to bail.

The prosecution had asked the court to order Garraway to have no contact with the child, impose reporting conditions, order that she surrender her travel documents and issue stop notices.

The chief magistrate, in setting the bail, ordered Garraway to have no contact with the child and report to a police station twice weekly. She was further ordered to surrender her travel documents. Garraway must also obtain the permission of the court to leave the country.

The matter was adjourned to November 27, 2023.