One-Month-Old Baby Dies in Roche-Bois, Man Charged With Manslaughter
A one-month-old baby was found dead in Roche-Bois late Sunday night. An autopsy found the cause of death to be a laceration of the intestine.
A one-month-old baby died under tragic circumstances in Roche-Bois, a residential neighbourhood in the north of Port Louis, in the early hours of Monday morning.
Police discovered the infant dead at the family home at around 11 p.m. on Sunday. An autopsy was subsequently carried out by forensic pathologist Dr Gungadin, who determined that the cause of death was a laceration of the intestine, a serious internal injury.
A 27-year-old man was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for the area on Monday. The CID is the specialist investigative branch of the Mauritius Police Force, responsible for handling serious criminal cases.
During questioning, the man told investigators that he had been massaging the baby's stomach when the infant passed away. Police are treating the explanation with caution as the investigation continues.
The man is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, 3 November, facing a provisional charge of manslaughter by negligence, known in Mauritian law as homicide involontaire par imprudence. A provisional charge allows police to bring a suspect before a court quickly while the full investigation is still ongoing. It can be upgraded or amended as more evidence is gathered.
Police are expected to object to the granting of bail, meaning the man is likely to remain in custody while the case proceeds.
What this means: A provisional charge of manslaughter by negligence does not constitute a conviction. The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case will be heard by a magistrate, and the charge may be revised depending on the findings of the full post-mortem report and any further evidence collected by investigators.
Source: ION News
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a provisional charge in Mauritius?β
In Mauritius, a provisional charge is a temporary charge brought against a suspect to allow police to detain them and bring them before a magistrate while the full investigation is still underway. It can be changed or upgraded once more evidence is available.
What is the CID in Mauritius?β
The CID, or Criminal Investigation Division, is the specialist detective branch of the Mauritius Police Force. It handles serious criminal cases across different regions of the island, including homicide investigations.
Where is Roche-Bois in Mauritius?β
Roche-Bois is a densely populated residential neighbourhood located in the northern part of Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius.
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