KEISHA Williams, 24, an airplane groomer at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and Jermaine Marshall, 36, a production worker at Barama Company Limited, both of Lot 220 Public Road, Soesdyke, were remanded to prison yesterday, on individual charges of abandonment and ill-treatment of children. They appeared before Magistrate Leslie Sobers at the Providence Magistrates’ Court, also on the East Bank of Demerara, where it was alleged that, on Monday, February 25, at Lot 220 Public Road, Soesdyke, they, being the guardians of two children, abandoned their six-year-old daughter and four-year-old son, causing them unnecessary suffering.
It was also alleged that, between Monday, February 25 and Saturday, March 2, the couple wilfully ill-treated the children.  
Sandy Mitchell, mother of Williams, told the Court, that her daughter used to stay with her and always beat and ill-treat her children. When she talked to her about it, the defendant became annoyed and moved out of the house.
Marshall admitted being the foster father of the children but said, on February 19, the six-year-old girl ran away to her grandmother.
Police Sergeant Shellon Daniels, prosecuting, stated that the defendants, very often,locked the children in their apartment without any supervision and food, until they returned from work.
The prosecutor successfully requested that the defendants be sent on remand and the children be placed under the care of the Child Protection Agency.
Meanwhile, Williams pleaded not guilty to a separate charge that said she, on Monday, February 25, made use of insulting language to Sandy Mitchell.
The couple will be back in court on March 8.  (Geeta Rampersaud)