For not completing his assigned homework, Tyriz Nathan Skinner was given an additional assignment yesterday, when he appeared n the Bridgetown Traffic Court.
The 16-year-old Ellerslie schoolboy, of Fustic Village, St Lucy, is accused of wounding fellow student 17-year-old Dale Selman on November 22 last year in the canteen. Selman suffered partially severed fingers, and a deep cut to his elbow in a cutlass attack.
Skinner was granted $10 000 bail, and placed on a dusk-to-dawn curfew after appearing before Magistrate Graveney Bannister, on December 7, 2017. The magistrate also ordered the boy to read the book Strength To Love by assassinated American civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King Jr and to write out and be prepared to be quizzed on 20 quotations on non-violence promoted by King in the book.
However, when Skinner appeared with his mother, she told the court that she went to the National Library and there were only two copies available. She added that she went with her son to Eagle Hall Public Library as well, and was unsuccessful in obtaining a copy of the text.
When asked if she tried to Google the book, and whether her son had a phone she said “yes”. She was shown that the book was available online in court. The youngster began crying after the magistrate informed him he had additional homework.
Skinner must now also read Stride Towards Freedom by King in addition to Strength To Love. He is to include and explain King’s five principles of non-violence and the concept of the beloved community.
He was also warned not to be late for court next time.
Skinner was ordered to return to court next Monday. (RA)
