Charged

The parents of a 7-year old child who died following an illness and was buried unlawfully in Toko, Tavua earlier this year have been charged.

The two have been charged with one count of Manslaughter Arising from Breach of Duty contrary to Section 240 and 241 (2) of the Crimes Act and one count of Restriction of Burial of Dead Bodies contrary to Sections 12 (1) (a) and (2) of the Burial and Cremation Act 1911.

For the first count the two are alleged to have between the 1st of December 2020 and 23rd February 2021 at Toko, Tavua in the Western Division made omission which amounted to a negligent breach of duty, by not taking their 7-year old child to hospital for medical attention which allegedly resulted in her death.

For the second count of Restriction of Burial of Dead Bodies, the two are alleged to have on the 23rd of February 2021 at Toko, Tavua caused to bury the body of their daughter without a certificate of death in the forms prescribed by the Registrar General by regulation under the Births, Death and Marriages Registration Act in register of that body signed by a Medical Practitioner.

The two will be appearing at the Tavua Magistrates Court today.