The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE psychiatric report on a teenage girl who pleaded not guilty to escaping police custody after allegedly trying to rob a clothing store with a shotgun has not reach Magistrate’s Court as yet.

Yesterday, the 15-year-old girl made a post-arraignment appearance before Acting Chief Magistrate Joyanne Ferguson-Pratt, who told the girl, her parents and attorney Jeffrey Lloyd: “I have yet to receive it.”

The judge asked the parents if anyone from the Department of Rehabilitative Services had spoken to them, but they said no.

The defendant, however, said she was visited once by a physician while on remand at Her Majesty’s Prison.

The Boyd Road teen faces four charges – attempted armed robbery, possession of an unlicensed shotgun, possession of ammunition and escaping lawful custody.

Concerning the first three charges, they were alleged to have been committed on August 2. The minor was not required to enter a plea.

It is claimed that she attempted to hold up Zonna Viva Clothing Store in the Town Centre Mall while armed with a black Pistol-grab Maverick 12-gauge shotgun and live ammunition.

To the final charge, alleged to have been committed on August 5, the girl pleaded not guilty.

In yesterday’s status hearing, after it was revealed that the psychiatric report had not been submitted, the magistrate said, “I will follow up on the request”.

She stressed the importance of the report, noting that it needed to be sent “to my colleague in Juvenile Court.”

As an adjourned date was being proposed, Mr Lloyd asked the court if it would consider releasing his client to her parents under the supervision of Social Services.

He noted that his client had missed two weeks of school already, as well as extracurricular commitments.

“I don’t want to leap unless I am first able to look at what I’m leaping into,” the magistrate responded.

She did, however, admit that his request made the probation report even more important, before adding that she would consider it.

When the parents were asked if they were opposed to their daughter being returned to their custody, they both said “I have no problem with that”.

The matter was adjourned to October 7.