Doc on $250,000 bail for newborn baby found in freezer

Dr Ronald Budhooram is escorted from court. PHOTO BY ANIL RAMPERSAD.
Dr Ronald Budhooram is escorted from court. PHOTO BY ANIL RAMPERSAD.

Dr Ronald Budhooram was yesterday granted $250,000 bail by a High Court judge after being initially denied by a magistrate before whom he appeared on a charge of manslaughter in the death of newborn baby Khemron Jorai.

Budhooram, 60, appeared before Senior Magistrate Cherril-Ann Antoine who denied him bail citing a previous charge of grievous sexual assault which has been put for trial in the High Court. Budhooram’s attorney Subhas Panday applied for bail before Justice Carla Brown-Antoine in the San Fernando High Court yesterday afternoon and the accused man was granted the bail to be approved by a clerk of the peace.

Earlier in the day, Antoine read a charge to Budhooram that on a date unknown, between June 30 and July 10, at Naparima Mayaro Road in San Fernando, he unlawfully killed baby Khemron, the son of Gail Cindy Sooknanan. The child was born on July 1.

The charge was laid indictably and Budhooram was not called upon to plead. Panday told the court Budhooram has been a practising doctor for the past 35 years. He said the doctor had one previous charge against him for grievous sexual assault. Prosecutor Sgt Cleyon Seedan confirmed that matter has been set for trial, as a preliminary enquiry was completed earlier this year. Seedan said the charge was laid in 2013.

When Antoine said she would not grant Budhooram bail, Panday pleaded with her to reconsider, saying his client is willing to submit to any conditions imposed. Panday said Budhooram is a chronic diabetic and his wife had recently died. He said the father of two poses no threat to society.

Antoine was not swayed. She told Panday of his client’s right to apply to a judge in chambers for bail. She remanded Budhooram into custody and adjourned the matter to January 11.

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"Doc on $250,000 bail for newborn baby found in freezer"

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