The Trust assists children who come into contact with the law with legal representation and says that without focusing on the root causes of poverty, orphan-hood and idleness, they will continue to offend.
In one case, a 15-year-old was arrested by police on a charge of murder after striking man with a brick, resulting in his death. He was remanded in custody at Guruve Magistrates Court since May 2012. The juvenile was called by the deceased to question him on the allegations that the juvenile had called him a thief. This had not pleased the deceased who started assaulting the juvenile on the head and back.
The juvenile finally freed himself and started running away with the deceased in pursuit. The juvenile then picked a brick and hit the deceased on the stomach hoping it would deter him but he continued with the pursuit. The juvenile then picked another brick and hit the deceased on the head, which resulted in his death.
The Department of Social Services notified the organization of the juvenile. With the assistance of Guruve Probation Officer and Officer in Charge, the Trust was able to get the child released into the custody of his uncle.
“The manner in which this offence was committed does not show any form of premeditation. The child, an orphan being cared for by his grandfather, was being assaulted and wanted to save himself from the assault. He had stopped going to school after grade 7 because his grandfather could not afford the fees for him,” says the Trust’s report.
It called on government to revive social services and assist orphans so as to avoid or reduce the vulnerability, adding: “Let us focus on what causes children to commit the offence.”
Post published in: News