AN OLD LAW that punishes offenders with a $24 or $120 fine for cruelty to children has Coroner Manila Renee concerned.
Yesterday, during the Shemar Weekes inquest, the issue came up as director of the Child Care Board (CCB), Joan Crawford, returned to the witness stand in the Coroner’s Court.
The coroner had been questioning the director about the powers of the CCB and the other child protection agency, the Royal Barbados Police Force, on which agency took over and when in cases of abuse.
Shemar, 12, died on May 14, 2015, and a probe into his suspected hanging began on June 27. During the five sittings since then the Coroner’s Court has heard from his great-aunt Clarista “Mabel” Daniel, who first made the reports of abuse to the police and the CCB; his stepfather; police; and CCB officials. (AC)
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