Couple suspected of killing disabled daughter.

Tema, April 5, GNA- A married couple and a sister of the woman who are suspected to have killed their own nine year old disabled daughter have been arraigned before the TDC magistrate court.

The pleas of Rosemary Nuque, Kwabena Ebo and Hanna Nuque were not taken and were granted 100 million cedis bail with two sureties each to re-appear on April 14 2004.

Nana Agyeman Badu, who presided explained that in granting bail, he considered Rosemary, who is nursing a two-week old baby, and when the police also granted them bail, and they reported accordingly. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Margaret Nunoo told the court that the couple gave birth to Caroline Mensah, completely paralysed. She was sent to hospital but could not be treated.

She said on March 16, 2004 between 0300 and 0400 hours, the girl, who has been sleeping with Hanna started shouting, and according to Rosemary, that was the behaviour of the deceased, so she attended to her and she stopped shouting.

Chief Inspector Nunoo said at about 0500 hours, when Rosemary visited the daughter the second time she found her dead and her husband (Ebo) went to report the case to the Community Two Police Station, and that night Hanna slept outside the house.

She said the body of Caroline was conveyed to the Tema General Hospital who after initial examination directed the police to arrest the parents. Later the body was transferred to the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital for a post mortem examination.

The medical doctor gave the cause of death as "severe cerebral oedema, or eked contusion and head injuries", which suggested that the girl died under suspicious circumstances.