Beaten schoolboy dies in hospital

JUDEL JERAN PADMORE, aged 11 and in Standard Four at the Diego Martin Primary School was beaten on the head by four men on June 6. He died on Tuesday at the Intensive Care Unit of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. An autopsy revealed that Judel died as a result of head injuries. Relatives are calling for swift justice for the murder of the child. Judel was walking from school to his home at Salandy Street, Diego Martin, on June 6, when he was allegedly abducted, taken to a forested area in Patna Village, and beaten on the head. According to the police, Judel  told his mother Anastasia Wilson he was having severe headaches. He was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was treated and transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. He reportedly told his mother that during the day on June 6, he had a fight with a girl and he kicked her.

On Tuesday, Padmore died and officers of the West End Police Station were alerted. Sgt Duncan ordered the body seized and an autopsy was carried out on Thursday afternoon. The incident was  reported to police only on June 21 by the dead child’s mother and a relative identified as Overand Padmore (not the former PNM Minister). Blaine Padmore, an uncle of the dead boy, yesterday called on investigators to ensure that the perpetrators of the cruel act are arrested and brought to justice. He described Judel as a student with an excellent future. “He was QRC material” said Blaine, as he stared at the body of his young nephew. Blaine said that as far as he was aware, an investigation was being carried out in the matter and he was monitoring developments to ensure that there was no cover up.