Two of the five boys involved in the attack on the Dominican teen living in Antigua and Barbuda have been charged with wounding with intent to murder.
The police spokesman in St Johns Inspector Frankie Thomas confirmed the charge last night.
Seventeen-year-old Azoo has been fighting for his life at the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre after being attacked by boys under the age of 18 in Grays Farm.
Since the charge falls under Schedule III of the Child Justice Act 2015, the duo was being held without bail up to last night, and they will remain in custody at least until they apply for bail before the High Court.
According to the law, in Antigua and Barbuda, Child Justice Board does not have the power to issue bail or release the boys into the custody of their parents, except in instances where the offences fall under Schedule I or II. If or when the boys are granted bail, another issue arises, because the law recommends that they be held in a safe house, but there is no such facility in Antigua and Barbuda, according to the source.
Meantime, Azoo has undergone surgery and is still recovering at the hospital. He is no longer in the ICU. He was moved to the ward on Sunday.
Acting Police Commissioner in St. Johns, Atley Rodney told reporters that the police interviewed Azoo and “he is speaking”.
He also said that the situation that led to Azoo being battered into a coma was neither a mugging nor a robbery as was widely reported in the media (and added that he should have corrected the information).
Instead, Rodney reported, the situation was a fight among several young persons that escalated until it got out of hand.
This should be a non-bailable offence. We will be watching. I hope the youth recovers, and is able to go back to living a normal life.
I just want justice to prevail. This sort of senseless violence is unacceptable in a ycivilized society. All five, if found guilty as charged should spend a lengthy time behind bars for such heartless and cruel actions.
Come back home my boy, home sweet home. May the good lord heal you from yr pain speedy recovery.