Attorney Wayne Benjamin Marsh
A teenage boy who brought a gun to his school in Antigua and Barbuda is expected to be moved from His Majesty’s Prison to a private residence after a ruling by the magistrate’s court in favor of his release.
The 16-year-old was remanded to prison on October 1st
The boy, a student at Clare Hall Secondary School, was arrested and charged after he brought a firearm to school, causing a lockdown at the learning facility.
Initially denied bail in the High Court, attorney Wayne Benjamin Marsh, who appeared in court on his behalf, argued that he should be provided with a Secure Residential Facility as a juvenile under the Child Justice Act of 2015.
Marsh said his client is improperly been housed at the prison since he was a juvenile.
The attorney also highlighted the lack of a secure juvenile facility in Antigua and Barbuda.
Justice Tunde Bakre agreed and ordered that he be placed in a secure facility. The judge also ruled that the order should be served to the relevant authorities, including the minister of social services and the police commissioner.
It is unclear when he will be transferred, which lies in the minister’s lap.
Attorney Marsh also believes that all other juveniles in the prison should be held at such a secure residential facility.
Furthermore, he said this new turn of events is likely to bring some resolution to the long-standing issue of juveniles being held at His Majesty’s Prison among hardened criminals.
We fight for the things least needed to be fought for. Maybe he belongs right there for him to understand that criminal life ain’t no good life. Gun life ain’t a good life. Cause maybe that same firearm could’ve resulted in something bad. Yes he’s a juvenile but something they deserve maximum punishment.
Agreed 100%
Her Majesty’s Prison is no place for a Juvenile. Matter fact it’s no place for anyone. It’s unhealthy. Get this child out of there before he round up like the rest of them in there
I don’t understand why he is being remanded to prison and deny bail. He’s just a teen that I’m sure doesn’t even understand the use of a gun. Maybe just saw it laying around and decide he will take it up to flaunt with his friend. Unknowing where it could’ve led too. Maybe he charge him I understand but locking him up as well is taking it too far. Matter fact the person responsible for the gun should be charged for being sooooooo careless.
Just listen to those bleeding heart criminal defenders! He should be made to stay right where he is in the absence of “suitable” accommodation for juveniles Look at the number of juvenile school shootings in the US which resulted in the murders of mainly children and school personnel. They should remain in jail, perhaps sequestered from their adult criminal relatives and pals! I hope that those attention cravers are willing to allow these thugs to live in their homes until released. With respect to the Clare Hall Secondary School incident, the million dollar question still left unanswered is, Where is the gun that this “poor baby” brought to School? Who retrieved the gun following the incident. Nobody seems concerned. WHERE IS THE GUN????
The government should invest in facilities for these young people instead of sending them right to her majesty’s prison.