Dear Editor,

A 17-year-old girl has been charged as an adult with the murder of her mother’s friend. The other adults around her who could have made some interventions will get off scot free. The state which should be providing guidance counsellors in her school to help her deal with her family situation will not be charged. We never want to condone murder. But, as we read the stories which the media has fed us of this case, it is easy to recognise that the teenager should not be tried as an adult and that more serious work has to be done to provide support for children who are having problems with their parents or those who are supposed to be in parenting roles.

Yours faithfully,
Vidyaratha Kissoon