The adopted daughter of "Auntie Em", Rosamund Hayward, said she had not agreed to pay for care for her mother over a weekend because she would be home from work.

Mrs. Hayward, of Upland Street, Devonshire, explained in Magistrates' Court that it was unnecessary for Yvonne Dawson to care for her mother when she was able to do so herself.

"Yes I was off on weekends and I did not agree to pay Mrs. Dawson because I would be home to care for mom," she said.

Mrs. Dawson has taken Mrs. Hayward to court claiming she owes her $25,000 in unpaid caregivers' fees.

Mrs. Hayward, the adopted daughter of 96-year-old Wilhemina Liburd also said her husband, Patrick Hayward Sr., did not request her mother be put in a home because they were able to adequately care for her.

"Mrs. Dawson showed up at my house on a Saturday and I asked her why she was here because I am going to do the weekend for my mom, but she stayed," she added.

Mrs. Hayward said in her evidence last week that she never received contracts from Mrs. Dawson.

The Royal Gazette revealed last year that the hiring of Ms Dawson to look after Mrs. Liburd in the home she shared with Mr. and Mrs. Hayward, her two grandchildren and a great grandson, was the catalyst for the authorities becoming involved in the family's affairs.

Environmental health officers found that the filthy, cluttered, roach- and rodent-infested Upland Street home was unfit for human habitation. And a social worker deemed Mrs. Liburd at risk of elder abuse.

Ms Dawson took Mrs. Liburd into her own home in late 2006.

The frail widow, who had part of her leg amputated last year due to gangrene, has never returned to Upland Street and now resides at the Continuing Care Unit at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

This newspaper's initial reports on Mrs. Liburd referred to her only as "Auntie Em".

Her identity has since been made public by her nephew.

The case is due to continue today.