-act of parental control, says lawyer
A man was yesterday charged after he allegedly used a belt to administer a beating to his teenage son, resulting in injuries to his back.
But what police called an unlawful assault on the 13-year-old, the accused’s lawyer dubbed an act of parental control, when the case was called before Magistrate Leron Daley at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The accused pleaded not guilty and was released on bail in the sum of $25,000, but the magistrate did order the intervention of a probation officer to investigate claims that he is an abusive father.
The boy was present in court and black and blue marks were visible on his back.
The accused, who is Brazilian by birth, is a naturalised citizen and runs a shop in the Alberttown area.
His lawyer, Paul Fung-a-Fat, told the court that he was only exercising parental control over his son, while noting that the lad was warned constantly about his late coming after school.
Fung-a-Fat also said that the father expects the boy to be home between 3pm and 3:30pm but he would arrive home after 6pm.
Prosecutor Denise Booker did not object to bail, but requested that a probation officer be brought in to assist in the matter.
According to Booker, the accused is a known abuser.
The magistrate granted the prosecutor’s request and set bail before adjourning the case to November 14 for reports and fixtures.
