Teen remanded over St Gabriel’s chaos

A 16-year-old boy who is accused of being behind the chaos created at St. Gabriel’s Primary School on Tuesday, yesterday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and was remanded into police custody by Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan.

The teenager pleaded not guilty to being in possession of an offensive weapon, using offensive language and threatening behaviour.

Information reaching this newspaper stated that the lad went to the Oronoque Street School in relation to one of his cousins but was asked to leave the compound because of his inappropriate attire. He was wearing a vest and short pants.

The teenager left only to return with two others, his sister and a man who had a gun tucked into his pants waist. The teenager had reportedly armed himself with a cutlass. As the teenager was making his way into the compound in search of the male teacher who had earlier asked him to leave the compound, he swung the cutlass recklessly. A child suffered a wound from the cutlass as the teenager reportedly climbed the stairs looking for the said teacher. This sent teachers and students scampering around the building.

Shortly after the trio left, police arrived at the school.

Stabroek News understands that the teenager was arrested shortly after by members of a police patrol who were in the area at the time.

Dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt, jeans and black shoes, the teenager looked mature for his age.

The teenager pleaded not guilty to the charges while his mother stood crying at his side.

He was represented by attorney-at-law Leslie Sobers. Despite counsel’s pleas for the child to be released into his mother’s custody, the teenager was remanded.

He will return to Court Six on Monday. (See other story on page 12)