A student who pleaded guilty to having a ten-inch knife told a San Fernando magistrate yesterday it was to protect himself from bullies. The 14-year-old, who attends a secondary school in San Fernando, said he had been a victim of bullying by students of another school in the district. Police acting on a tip-off searched the boy while he was on his way home two weeks ago and found the knife. He was arrested and charged with possession of a weapon to commit an indictable offence.
He pleaded guilty when he appeared before San Fernando Sixth Court Magistrate Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds on March 18. Court prosecutor Sgt Gordon Maharaj said the knife was hidden in his pants waist. The boy was placed on his own bail in the care of his mother and a probation officer’s report ordered. When he re-appeared in court yesterday the report was not ready.
The magistrate also told him not to wear his school uniform to court because she did not want the school to get a bad name. The matter was adjourned to April 25.