launched an appeal.

Filomena Cabral, 32, was found guilty last month of bruising the baby's right thigh, possibly with a belt.

Yesterday her lawyer, Mr. John Barritt, revealed he had filed a Supreme Court appeal. His announcement came in Magistrates' Court where Cabral was due to be sentenced.

Mr. Barritt told Acting Magistrate the Wor. Charles-Etta Simmons proceedings should be "stayed'' pending the outcome of the appeal.

The appeal date has not been fixed, and the hearing was adjourned for mention until July 28. Cabral was granted bail.

Cabral, of Laffan Street, Hamilton, had been charged with causing bodily harm to Daniella D'Amato on April 3 last year.

In court last month the prosecution said the baby suffered a bruise four or five inches long.

It was pathologist Dr. Keith Cunningham's opinion that the injuries came from two "applications'' of the end of a belt.

There was no evidence against the child's father or mother, said the prosecution.

Cabral claimed she snatched a stick from three little boys playing with Daniella. As she did so, the baby, who was right behind her, was hit on the leg, Cabral added.

Yesterday Crown Counsel Mr. Stephen Harrison asked for the case to be adjourned for mention so "we can monitor progress''.

Criminal matters should not be adjourned indefinitely, he added.

Mr. Barritt warned against too much public debate over the case at this stage.

People should realise the case was still going through the "judicial process'', he said. They risked contempt of court by too much public comment.

Mr. Barritt added there had been a "rush of publicity'' following earlier hearings.