WESTERN BUREAU:

A 47-year-old mother and her daughter were left standing on their own in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday when their lawyer ceased representation because they had not honoured their financial obligations.

The mother is alleged to have allowed different men to sexually molest her 13-year-old daughter, while she (the mother) collected food and money over a period of time.

Her elder daughter, a 27-year-old domestic helper, is charged jointly with aiding and abetting carnal abuse and cruelty to a child.

When the case came up for mention in court, attorney-at-law Joseph Allen told the court he had appeared previously for the accused women, but would no longer represent them, as they had not settled payment.

Withdrawal

"My purpose here today is to withdraw myself from the case," Mr. Allen told Resident Magistrate Evan Brown. "I respectfully ask to be withdrawn."

Addressing the mother and daughter as they stood quietly in the dock, RM Brown asked: "Are you able to pay for your own lawyer?"

The mother and daughter stared at each other, then gazed at the judge without answering.

"Can you pay a lawyer to represent you in court?" the judge asked again.

"No," they replied.

A man stood up in court, identifying himself as the husband of the mother, and said he was not in a position to pay the lawyer at this time.

"We could afford the money the last time but we can't this time. I can afford it in another two months," the husband told the court.

The accused women's bails were then extended until June 25.

The Balaclava police are alleging that, for some time, the teenage girl had been repeatedly sexually molested. The matter was brought to police attention in March when they received reports that Anthony Peart, 32, had carnally abused the child.

Upon investigating, the police arrested and charged Peart with carnal abuse. Peart, who is originally of a Kingston address, had been living and working in St. Elizabeth.

At least four adult males are on the run from police in connection with carnally abusing the 13-year-old girl, who has been taken into custody.