The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised the Police to charge the owner of Little Learnings Day Care, Denise Benn, with manslaughter following the death of seven-month-old Oriya Gravesande.Â
Benn, who has been on station bail, is expected to make a court appearance sometime this week.
Following the death of Gravesande, a joint investigation by the Police Force, the Child Care and Protection Agency (CH&PA), and the Ministry of Human Service and Social Protection was compiled.
The matter was sent to the DPP for advice, which was returned to the Police, asking for a further investigation. This was complied with, and thus the owner is expected to charge.
Little Learnings Day Care took the spotlight on March 21, 2023, after seven-month-old Gravesande went unresponsive.
She was rushed to the Ogle Health Center but transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
An autopsy conducted on the toddler revealed that she died due to haemorrhage and suffocation by compression of the neck.
And while the Day Care has been operating for 27 years, it was registered with the Childcare Protection Agency. Moreover, it was in the process of getting approval.
