Bail revoked for mom charged with abandoning children

A GASPARILLO mother was on Friday asked to explain why her child scored 83 marks in mathematics, but a mere 19 in reading.

Candace Dial, 38, was before senior magistrate Cherril-Ann Antoine, who revoked her bail.

The mother faces charges of abandoning two of her children. The charges were laid under section 4 of the Children's Act.

Dial was on bail for the December 13 offence, but police took her back into custody on Friday after the magistrate revised the sum to $100,000.

Dial is alleged to have left the children, aged ten and three, at their home at about 11 pm. Police responded to phone calls from neighbours, who said they heard the children crying and screaming inside the house.

When Dial first appeared in court, last week Monday, the magistrate asked for the school report book of her ten-year-old son. The other child is a girl.

The report book was submitted to the magistrate on Friday by attorney Indira Binda, representing Dial.

Antoine said, "But maam, you have an intelligent child. He is getting 83 in maths, but why are you not helping him in his reading? He's getting 19 in reading. You have to do your part. He can't be getting only 19. The report since infants saying, 'You have to improve your reading.'"

Antoine had to revoke Dial's bail because her bailor, Paul Guerra, had taken bail using the same deed for accused people in Port of Spain, Sangre Grande and San Fernando.

She ordered fresh bail of $100,000. Dial could not access it on Friday and was taken to prison. She returns to court on January 17.