Charlestown Secondary student on probation for knife possession

By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter, SKNVibes.com

~~Adz:Left~~CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - A IA4 student of the Charlestown Secondary School (CSS) was on Tuesday placed on probation by Magistrate Yasmine Clarke for possession of a knife with intent to use it in a fight.

The student, who was accompanied by his mother to the court, pleaded guilty to the offence.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Andre Mitchell submitted to the court that at about 3:00 p.m. on March 20, 2008, the school’s security officer notified the Principal that the student was in possession of an offensive weapon. He was searched and a knife was found on him.

The student had said during the search that somebody had given the knife to him. When asked by the Magistrate how she had responded to incident when informed, the mother said her son had told her that students from Cotton Ground were supposed to have been engaged in a fight. 

Turning to the student, Her Worship said: “Do you know I can send you to prison? If somebody had beaten you that day you would have used the knife. Since teachers cannot beat you, when you are brought to me I can get the strongest Police officer to beat you upstairs. Law says I can beat you all or send you upstairs to be beaten by the Police. Law is set up in a way that I can punish you.”

And in addressing the mother, the Magistrate said, “This is a very serious offence.”  Her Worship told the mother that the law also allows for mothers to be punished when underage children go astray.

She told the student that his character would be monitored as well as his school performance. The student was ordered to return to the Magistrate’s Court on September 2 for his assessment report.