Teen charged after ‘confessing’ to beating homeless man with board in Port Maria
ST MARY, Jamaica — A 16-year-old boy has been charged after confessing that he used a piece of board to inflict injuries on an elderly homeless man in the vicinity of the Port Maria Market in St Mary earlier this month.
The teen’s identity was not released, as he is a minor.
He was slapped with a wounding with intent charge on Thursday following a question and answer session in the presence of his attorney, during which he told law enforcers that he and an accomplice used the board to hit the elderly man.
Investigations are ongoing as the police work to identify and apprehend the second suspect.
According to a release from the St Mary police, about 1:10 am on Tuesday, April 1, officers responded to reports of an elderly man found lying unresponsive with a head injury near the market.
On arrival, they discovered the 70-year-old complainant bleeding profusely from a severe wound to the head.
The man was taken to the Port Maria Hospital, where he was admitted in serious condition. He was later transferred to Kingston Public Hospital for further treatment.
“Medical personnel indicated that his injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma to the head,” the police informed, adding that an investigation was subsequently launched into the attack.
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the teen was apprehended during a police operation.
During an interview in the presence of legal representation, he “admitted” involvement in the incident, the St Mary police reported in its statement.
It added that the teenager told investigators that “he and an accomplice used a piece of board to inflict injuries on the complainant while he slept at the location [in the vicinity of the market]”.
The accused was formally charged two days later.
Meanwhile, the St Mary police are appealing to anyone with information that can assist in this investigation to contact the Port Maria Police at 876-994-4222, 876-333-9530, or Crime Stop at 311.
At the time of the incident, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie had condemned the attack, calling for public co-operation in ensuring the swift apprehension of his attackers.
