Schoolboys ordered to study on bail or go to jail

05.APR.07

JAMAICA – THE FIVE Kingston Technical High School students who appeared on assault charges in the Kingston Family Court last week had better do their homework – or else they’ll be locked up.

As part of the unusual conditions of bail handed down by the court, they have each been ordered to join a library, read a book each week, and submit a book review each Friday to their attorney-at-law Alando Terrelonge, until their cases have been disposed.{{more}}

Terrelonge said the bail conditions were imposed to give the juveniles (all under the age of 17 years) ways and means of finding something constructive to do during their spare time and to keep them out of trouble.

Nine students from the school are before the courts. Four appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court last week Friday and were remanded until April 13. The four were taken to that court because they are all over the age of 17.

Two of the five students before the Family Court are charged with assaulting a female teacher who complained that the boys made sexual advances on her; two are charged with assaulting a male teacher and the fifth is charged with assaulting another student during a fight.