Mom freaks out at court

A 27-year-old mother caused alarm in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court waiting area yesterday when she started gasping for air and trembling uncontrollably after receiving a distressing phone call about her son.

"It's my spine that is the problem, but when I am stressed or experience extreme upset, the twitching starts. It don't have a timeframe to stop. It just calm on its own," explained the woman, who suffers from a stress-induced condition. Her anxiety peaked when she was informed that someone claiming to be from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency had reportedly taken her child from school.

"Mi mother, father, and sister nuh stop," she cried. "I went through my pregnancy alone and did not depend on anyone because me and the father fell out for a while. Now them [her relatives] want mi son, them gone report me."

The young mother, who recently relocated to escape family disputes, said she had notified the school of her concerns and specifically requested restricted access to her child. However, she claims the school has been accepting food from her mother for the child, leading to accusations that her son was being neglected.

"My mother do it, bout him nah get no care. My son get everything I have. I make sure of it! And he is well taken care of by his father," she said through tears, showing a picture of her son to onlookers.

Spectators in the waiting area admired the photo and urged the mother to remain calm. She explained that due to her original financial constraints when she just moved, her son has been living with his father and his family in St Catherine since April.

The young woman was in court seeking $19,000 owed to her by a defendant who assaulted her when she tried to collect the money at his workplace. However, her thoughts were consumed by worry for her son. Relief only came when her son's principal and class teacher confirmed that he was safe and in class, as no one came to the school.

The assault case was resolved through on-the-spot mediation, with the defendant ordered to make restorative payments.