STJOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — A 26 year-old physics teacher has been released on EC$10,000 (One EC dollar =US$0.37 cents) bail after he appeared in court charged with the attempted murder a 14-year-old secondary school student.

Vendiz Charles was granted bail by the High Court, following his appearance before Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh in the St John’s Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The matter against the accused is scheduled for hearing on May 15.

The secondary school student was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mount St John’s Medical Centre on January 24, suffering from an injury to his head. He was reportedly riding his bicycle on the school compound, after hours, when he was reportedly struck in the head with a stone. He was discharged last Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Antigua & Barbuda Union of Teachers (A&BUT) has called on the police to review the charge of attempted murder against Charles.

 “While the action was irresponsible, and while we respect and support the work and professionalism of the police, we strongly beg to disagree that there was any malice in the teacher’s action that would support the conclusion, that there was intent to murder that student or any other by the teacher in question,” the union said in a statement.