Foul-mouthed teenager allegedly punches mom

An 18-year-old is alleged to have assaulted her 50-year-old mother who tried to discipline her for using expletives.

The teen, Kitana Manning, spent four nights in custody following an incident on February 28, at the complainant's home in the Corporate Area. It is alleged that Manning and her mother had an altercation after Manning used expletives in the presence of her child. Sometime thereafter, the altercation became physical and Manning allegedly used a broom to hit her mother, then punched her in the face and tore her merino. Manning allegedly dragged her mother across the ground.

Manning, who was in custody, did not enter a plea to the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm when she appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court. She was unable to secure her station bail of $30,000.

"I want her to get bail because she affi look after her child and give me the opportunity to go back to my work," the mother said.

"Would you want to go to counselling?" Senior Parish Judge Paula Blake-Powell probed.

"She needs counselling," the mother said. She explained that Manning was once in the care of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency then got pregnant and was enrolled at one of the Women's Centre locations. She was then offered a spot at a Corporate Area high school.

"From there, everything just explode," the mother said.

Blake-Powell offered Manning bail in the sum of $50,000 in her own surety, with the condition that she reports to the police once weekly. She was also made the subject of a psychiatric evaluation and is to attend mediation with her mother. The matter was adjourned until June 13 for mention.