BELIZE CITY–A woman who resides on Fern Lane in the St. Martin De Porres area of Belize City and is the mother of a 6-year-old boy was charged with grievous harm against her son when she appeared this morning before Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith.

Odette Lambey, 32, a sales clerk, was represented at her arraignment by attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd.

Before the arraignment began, Matura-Shepherd told the court, “It is a terrible situation that has happened and social services has already removed the child and gave him to his maternal grandparents.”

Lambey pleaded not guilty to the single count of grievous harm.

The Chief Magistrate asked the court prosecutor, Corporal Christopher Smith, what is the relationship between the accused woman and the victim.

Smith told her that the accused woman is the child’s mother.

Prosecutor Smith told the court that while he had no objection to bail, he wanted the court to impose conditions on the bail for Lambey.

Smith offered Lambey bail in the sum of $500 plus one surety in the same amount, and stipulated that she stay away from her son until supervised visits can be arranged with a social worker.

Matura-Shepherd asked the court to allow her client supervised visits because the circumstances of the separation would be difficult for both the child and his mother.

According to Matura-Shepherd, her client will seek counseling.

Smith adjourned the matter to December 5.

The incident that led to Lambey being charged with grievous harm allegedly occurred at her Fern Lane home on Thursday, October 16, 2014, when her son suffered a burn on his hand.

A doctor who examined the child classified his injury as “grievous harm,” leading to the charge against Lambey.