The parents of the young woman believed to have been living under the cellar of an unfinished house have denied that she lived there, even as chilling details of filthy and inhumane conditions in which she was allegedly being kept, emerged in court.
In a story that shocked the nation and that has left many asking how this could happen, police are alleging that the young woman who turned 20 last week was kept by her father and his common law wife under their house in the informal community of Windsor, near St. Ann’s Bay.
The couple, 39-year-old Gerald Campbell, labourer and his 42-year-old common law wife, Melody Murphy, shopkeeper, have been charged for neglecting the girl who is said to suffer from physical and mental disability. The case was brought to St Ann’s Bay RM court last Tuesday, March 10, the same day the young woman, first thought to be a child because of her very slight and small frame, was celebrating her twentieth birthday.
They were denied bail and their lawyer, Peter McHugh, is expected to renew a bail application Tuesday, March 17 when they are brought back to court. The young woman is in hospital and is expected to undergo continuous medical checks to ascertain her physical and mental health.
The court heard that since she has been found, and has been receiving medical care, the young woman’s condition has improved. She has begun to talk, walk and feed herself.
The court also heard that the couple is no longer welcome in the community. Police said they cannot guarantee their safety if they return to Windsor.
The couple is maintaining that the young woman was not kept under a cellar but played in a special section at the front of the house and that she lived inside the main house.
Mr McHugh described the area the girl was found as the downstairs of the building. In arguing for bail, he said the couple was not a flight risk and that they could find elsewhere to reside since police had not finished their investigation and evidence gathering which involves their dwelling.
The prosecution had requested two weeks to complete its probe, however RM Wilson after listening to arguments from the defence said he would give investigators seven days. They are to return to court on March 17.
Last Tuesday’s court hearing was the second time the couple was being brought to court. They were immediately taken to court after the discovery and a magistrate ordered them remanded. Police had reportedly taken them to court to seek guidance on how the proceed with the case against them.
Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered outside the courthouse last week trying to get a glimpse of the couple.
The gathering of mainly females openly expressed how wicked and cruel they considered what they called the act against ‘the poor child’.
