Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington says a lack of parental supervision is a contributing part of increasing problem of teenagers appearing before the courts on criminal charges.Wellington, presiding in the San Fernando First Court, made the statement as a 17-year-old, of Cross Crossing, appeared before him on Monday, charged with stabbing a man in the back with a pair of scissors during a fight.The teenager, who stood with his mother at his side, pleaded guilty to maliciously wounding Ricardo Trotman on July 2, 2011, at San Fernando. The incident occurred at 4.30 am.Wellington asked the mother why her 17-year-old son was out his home at that time. She said her son went out with his friends the night before.Wellington said: "He is 17 years old, he is not a man. That's cool with you? This is part of the problem, a lack of supervision."He told the mother: "You are obviously not supervising this young man."
Wellington remanded the teen to the Youth Training Centre and ordered a probation officer's report. The teen will reappear in court on July 11.In his defence, the teen said he and Trotman were fighting."Fighting with fists," the magistrate asked."Yes," the teen replied."So from fists to scissors," Wellington remarked.The teen, who did not have a lawyer, initially said he was attending school. His mother, however, denied this, stating that he left school one year ago to work.The teen said he was doing landscaping.
