T&T boy, 15, chops mom over scolding for school work

(Trinidad Guardian) A Waterloo mother was almost killed in a brutal cutlass attack, allegedly at the hands of her 15-year-old son, whom she scolded about his school work.

The woman, whose right hand was severed in the attack, remained warded in a serious condition at the San Fernando General Hospital late yesterday following emergency surgery earlier in the day. The woman suffered heavy blood loss due to gashes on her head, chest and arms.

Reports stated that the boy and his mother were at their home in Butler Village around 7 am when they got into an argument in which he picked up a cutlass and chopped her several times. It allegedly stemmed from his unwillingness to attend school.

Shortly after, his father returned home from work and when he inquired why he had not gone to school, the boy left home.

The father then entered the house and found his wife bleeding on the floor. Freeport police and ambulance responded and the woman was taken to the Couva District Health Facility before being transferred to the hospital.

A search was launched for the boy and within a few hours, he was found in Freeport. He was arrested and is expected to be transferred to the custody of the Child Protection Unit.

Just this week, a 17-year-old schoolboy appeared at the Children’s Court charged with last week’s murder of 15-month-old Racquel George.

In a statement late yesterday, Education Minister Garcia expressed regret over the incident saying the ministry received a report from School Supervision personnel.

Garcia said officers of the Student Support Services Division of the ministry have already been contacted and will be visiting the school today.

He said, “Experts from the Student Support Services Division of the ministry will provide counselling and intervention for teachers and students at the school which the alleged perpetrator attends. The Student Support Services Division will also be extending similar services to the student and members of the affected family.”