Friday, September 21 2012

THE FOUR teenagers arrested and charged last week with beating policewoman Frances Benjamin in San Fernando, granted bail yesterday after spending a in custody. The boys, aged 14 to 15, were charged along with Marlon Mikhel Miguel, 18, all of Embacadere were brought to court from the Youth Training Centre, (YTC) where they were on remand, yesterday to face Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan.

When they first appeared last week Thursday, that magistrate remanded them into custody pending tracing of their criminal record. Miguel who was also charged with possession of a cutlass with intention to wound, was granted bail in the sum of $45,000.

The other three boys were each granted bail in the sum of $30,000. They all were represented by attorneys Winston Seunath, Shawn Tikasingh and Sascha Singh.

The accused boys’ parents were all in court yesterday with the defense attorneys telling the court that the boys’ parents were ready to stand their bail.

The charges stemmed from an incident in which Benjamin was walking along Owen Street in San Fernando, when she was attacked and slapped in her face. The police woman works in the Court and Process Branch and escorts prisoners to and from court.

Rambachan yesterday ordered that the boys be remanded to YTC in the event that their respective bail is not posted.

They were also ordered to re-appear in court on October 18.