Boy, 13, charged for killing boy, 17

The accused boy appeared in the Couva Magistrates’ court last Friday charged with manslaughter and was granted bail.

The charge alleges that at about 6.30 pm on November 26, Lewis of Freeport was shot in the head shortly after leaving a house where a prayer service was in session. He died on the spot. Lewis was at the time on his way to a snackette to buy a soft drink.

Homicide detectives conducted investigations and arrested the 13-year-old. A file was prepared and submitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

On Friday last, the 13-year-old appeared before Magistrate Cheryl Ann Antoine who read the charge to him that he unlawfully killed Lewis. The charge was laid indictably and as a result, the boy was not called upon to plead.

Attorney Frank Gittens announced that he was representing the boy and made a plea for bail to be granted.

The attorney submitted to Magistrate Antoine, that under new judge’s rules for children, a child shall must only be kept in custody for an offence as a last resort and for the shortest period of time. Gittens also submitted to the magistrate that the accused boy is not likely to abscond because he had co-operated with the police throughout their investigations.

Magistrate Antoine granted the boy bail in the sum of $50,000 with the step-father as surety. The case was adjourned to January 10.

After the accused teen’s step-father signed the surety, the accused boy was allowed to leave the courthouse.