Judge remands unattached teens

A 17-year-old, who has not been enrolled in school for the past two years, found himself before the courts on Wednesday, where he is accused of participating in a robbery.

The boy along with two other teenagers, aged 15 and 17, as well as an adult, 24-year-old Mark McIntosh, made their first appearance in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

The allegations are that on March 11 at 3:40 p.m., the complainant, a 14-year-old, was walking home from school with a friend, when four boys walked towards him, one of whom brandished a pair of scissors and proceeded to rob him of his cellphone.

In court on Wednesday, the 15-year-old took sole responsibility for the crime. However, Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague remanded the boys in lock-up.

Attorney-at-law Clyde Williams, who represented the teen who has not been in school for two years, told the court that his client was not guilty and there was nothing that linked him to the crime. He told the court that his client was enrolled at a secondary school in the Corporate Area prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Williams, the child's mother has been trying to enrol him in a HEART TRUST/NSTA programme, but to no avail.

The mother could not tell the judge about the programme. She indicated that she has tried to tutor him in mathematics and English. The teen did not sit any external examinations.

NOT AMUSED

The judge, however, was not amused.

"There is an onus on parents, responsible parents to see to it that their children are properly engaged. The devil does find work for idle hands," the judge stressed.

She then commented that the juvenile facility at which the boys are currently housed has been the saving grace for unattached males.

"I would not be a responsible judicial officer if I were to release any young man faced with these kinds of allegations into the custody [of a parent]. The mother has not demonstrated that she has a hold on him. Listen, I don't make light of it you know, robbery with aggravation is a serious offence," Cole-Montague stressed. She then requested a community report for the accused before considering bail.

A social enquiry report was requested for the 15-year-old, who pleaded guilty to robbery with aggravation and being armed with an offensive weapon.

The two 17-year-olds and the adult were remanded in custody and are to return to court on May 5.