Teenager placed on bond for damaging secondary school’s property

A teenager who was not allowed to register as a student at a secondary school was placed on a bond after he slashed the mesh on 19 windows at the school compound.

The 16-year-old appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Senior Magistrate Collin John, where he was charged that between November 14 and 16, 2023 at Grand Bay, Canouan, without lawful excuse, he damaged nineteen 4 x 3 window meshes of unknown value, the property of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and was reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.

The report was made by Tenille Austin, a teacher at the Canouan Secondary School who stated that on Thursday, November 16, 2023 about 8:45 am, she was put in charge of the school because of the absence of the principal. Austin was in office when she was approached by the janitor, who notified her that several window meshes had been damaged.

Shortly after, a student of the school gave Austin certain information about the window meshes. On investigation, Austin observed that several window meshes had been slashed. She informed the principal who then requested that the matter be reported to the Canouan Police Station.

When PC 915 Snagg visited the scene at the Canouan Secondary School, she observed that 19 window meshes had been damaged.

An investigation was carried out, which led PC Snagg to the home of the teenager. Snagg informed the youngster of the report that the police were investigating and took him to the Canouan Police Station.

There, Snagg cautioned and interviewed the young man in the presence of Justice of the Peace Norman Sergeant. The young man volunteered a statement and further investigations were carried out and a statement was recorded.

He was then arrested and charged with the offence of Damage to Property and served with a copy of the charge sheet.

Prior to his arraignment, the young man was admitted into a mental institution where the psychiatrist found him fit to plea to the charge.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that the teenager had tried to register at the school but was not admitted.

After hearing the facts, the senior magistrate reprimanded and discharged the teenager, and placed him on a bond in the sum of $1,000 with a default of six months imprisonment.

He was also ordered to compensate the virtual complainant $1129.36 in three months, with a default of three months imprisonment.