KINGSTON, Jamaica — Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell on Tuesday warned a mother that she could be charged with child neglect after the woman’s son was remanded in custody on the charge of robbery with aggravation.

The 17-year-old is jointly charged with another individual for reportedly robbing a phone in Half Way Tree earlier this year. At the time of the incident, his co-accused was held by persons who had witnessed the crime. The teenager was later identified by the complainant and charged by the police.

Appearing before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, the mother of the minor told Judge Burrell that her son, who works with his uncle five days of the week, was currently learning trade work, including carpentry.

“Why is he not going to school?” Judge Burrell asked the mother.

The mother of five explained that her son stopped going to school at 15 years old because she had no help to maintain him. She furthered clarified to the judge that her family was not on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), a programme designed to help vulnerable families.

“I don’t think that’s a good excuse for him not going to school…You need to wake up. That is your hard work there,” Judge Burrell warned the mother.

“This is the result of not wanting to get help…This is the result of being passive,” she continued.

“You know you can be charged for child neglect for not sending him to school? He is being neglected that is why he is here,” Judge Burrell added.

The 17-year-old was remanded in custody. He will return to court on November 28, 2024.

— Kelsey Thomas