Court shows leniency to young man

A mother was brought to tears on Monday after her son was shown mercy at the Serious Offences Court.{{more}}

The 20-year-old college dropout was brought before the court, after he was found with over 500 grammes of cannabis at the Grenadines wharf over the weekend.

When questioned by Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias as to how far he had gotten in school, the young man revealed that he had graduated from secondary school with seven CSEC subjects, but was not able to complete his course in agriculture after one year at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College’s Technical and Vocational Education division.

He further revealed that the cannabis was to be sold to help him to assist with travel expenses to the Grenadines in search of a job, as he did not wish to burden his mother, who already faces a financial strain.

“When you listen to these cases you have a feeling,” said senior prosecutor Adolphus Delpesche, before withdrawing the charge.

Delpesche sympathized with young man, taking into consideration his age and the explanation he gave.

“It’s tough,” he added, to which Browne-Matthias agreed.

The Chief Magistrate, however, explained to the young man that if he had been convicted he would have placed a “stumbling block” in front of himself, which would have barred him from furthering his studies and being hired at a respected establishment.

“Don’t put any kind of block to your possibilities of moving forward,” she advised.

Browne-Matthias went on to advise the boy’s mother to work hard in order to ensure that her child would get educational advancement, at least to a certain level, because when he graduates from university, she would be filled with pride.

“He would remember the sacrifice that you made,” she told the mother.

Now teary-eyed, the mother thanked the Chief Magistrate for showing leniency.

The emotional woman disclosed that she had abandoned her studies to take care of her son, who is her eldest, further stating that although it is hard, she tries her best to provide.

“I must say it’s very nice to see the human element in the court,” commented lawyer Duane Daniel.

Daniel, who was present during the case, applauded the court for showing humanity in withdrawing the case involving the young man who had tried to relieve the financial strain put on his mother.(AS)