The two 15-year-old St Leonard School boys who were part of a fight at the school were released on bail when they reappeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The two had been remanded to the Government Industrial School until March 14 after they and two 16-year-olds, Jaheim Roberto Holder, of Branckers Gap, Government Hill, St Michael, and Shakeil Ian Nicholls, of 3rd Avenue, Goddings Road, Station Hill, in the same parish, appeared on a number of charges last week Wednesday.
The boys, who are now on $2 000 bail each as they wait for the completion of a pre-sentencing report, had admitted they caused a disturbance at the school and that they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Nicholls on February 12.
On Thursday, Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, who appeared amicus curiae, told the court: “One of the things is that they should be on bail and they should be back in school until the matter is ventilated.”
Magistrate Douglas Frederick released the two boys on $2 000 bail each with a surety and urged the Probation Department to complete the report on the boys by April 12.
“I had asked the Probation Department to prioritise this matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, Holder and Nicholls remain on $5 000 bail each after they pleaded not guilty to causing disturbance at the school on February 12. Holder further denied assaulting one of the 15-year-old boys on that same date.
They return to court on April 12.
The court had heard that one of the 15-year-olds was in the home economics classroom when he was approached by Nicholls, who asked if he wanted to fight.
Prosecutor Sergeant Theodore McClean added that the 15-year-old left the area and went to the library where he again encountered Nicholls. There was a verbal exchange and the boy left the area after a teacher intervened.
He was followed by Nicholls and when he got to the area of the staircase, he asked Nicholls: “What you looking at me for? You is a ******?”
That apparently angered Nicholls who responded by punching the 15-year-old in the face. A struggle ensued and both boys fell.
The court further heard that while he was on the ground Nicholls heard someone saying the 15-year-old had a knife and he felt him hitting him in the stomach. Shortly after, the other 15-year-old and Holder joined the fracas. (HLE)
