A woman allowed her boyfriend to abuse her three-year-old son because she didn’t have anywhere to live, a court heard.
Prosecutors have charged the 23-year-old woman and her new lover, 29, with causing grievous bodily harm to the toddler between May 1 and October 29.
The boy remains in hospital.
The court heard how a nurse at the Ann’s Town Clinic raised the alarm after the child was brought there severely dehydrated on October 29.
Police questioned the mother, who said a few months ago her son started messing up himself when her boyfriend was around.
Whenever the child lost control of his bodily functions, her boyfriend beat him with a belt and electrical wire.
The mother, who has a two-year-old son with another man, explained that she didn’t intervene because she was “afraid and didn’t have anywhere to live.”
A few weeks ago, the child’s feet began to swell and he started wasting away, although he had a healthy appetite.
Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain remanded the mother to prison until January 19, 2021 for sentencing after she pleaded guilty.
Her boyfriend also admitted to the charge, but the court did not accept it after he disputed the prosecutor’s summary. He was denied bail and returns to court on January 19 for trial.