Nurse interviewed over beating of toddler

A 39-year-old Nurse employed at the Port of Spain General Hospital was questioned for several hours today at the St James police station by inspector Cummings of the Child Protection Unit over her alleged involvement in the beating of a two-year-old child.

The toddler, who is on life-support at the Intensive Care Unit of the Eric Williams Medical Science Centre in Mt Hope, has a slim chance of survival, doctors say.

She continues to shift in and out of consciousness and her parents have been told they should prepare for the worst.

A woman reportedly punched the child in her stomach and back several times last Saturday when she was left in her care by the child's 42-year-old father.

It is alleged that assault was witnessed by the suspect’s teenaged daughter who has already been interviewed by the police.

When the child complained of feeling unwell, her father took her to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Centre on Sunday where an examination revealed that the child's colon had been ruptured as a result of blunt force trauma.

Emergency surgery was carried out, but the injuries were so extensive that the child's condition was deemed critical and a decision is yet to be made on whether to take her off the life support machine.

Yesterday her parents remained at the ICU, praying non-stop for her recovery, but at the same time demanding swift justice.

Police investigators told Newsday after today's interview with the main suspect, they will approach the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for directions in the matter. The suspect has vehemently denied that she assaulted the child and claimed that the child fell and was constipated.