KINGSTON, Jamaica — A young woman suffering from a mental health condition was remanded in custody on Tuesday for a psychiatric evaluation after moving several people in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court to tears.

The 24-year-old woman appeared before Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell, charged with unlawful wounding.

When Burrell asked the woman if she knew why she was before the court, she said, “Because mi stab mi mother.”

The woman then immediately followed up with, “But mi neva stab her fi spite”, in a contrite tone.

Her mother, who appeared as the complainant, appealed to the court for help but was interrupted in her appeal to the judge by her daughter, who cried out, “Mommy mi neva mean to stab you.”

She went on to beg her mother to allow her to come home, eventually breaking down in tears, at which point multiple civilians and police could be seen blinking away tears.

Her mother revealed that the young lady had been showing signs of mental health challenges since she was 10 and stopped attending school at 16. She indicated her daughter had been diagnosed with a mental health issue, but did not elaborate.

The woman said her daughter currently lives with a boyfriend and goes between his and her home.

A police liaison officer told the court the young woman has been to the station on multiple occasions and can be disruptive.

The mother indicated she did not want the woman back home.

She told Burrell, “I need some help and counselling for her because she’s on the road to and from.”

Burrell told the woman, “She needs care and supervision, and that’s not going to happen here.”

The judge called on probation services to assist in finding a place that could care for the young woman.

She was remanded in custody with a psychiatric evaluation ordered before her return on April 21.

— Dana Malcolm