By Nalini Seelal
April 19, 2018 – newsday.co.tt
A 15-YEAR-OLD form three Presentation College student, in a fit of rage, yesterday chopped off his mother’s right hand and then chopped her several times on the back of the neck after an argument at their Waterloo home. The teen, who was in his school uniform, with blood splattered over his shirt, was found in a daze at the nearby Waterloo Cremation site. While being escorted to a police van, he began weeping and told police he was sorry.
He said, “I did it because my mother took away my cellphone the night before and I found it was unfair.” The boy was taken to the Brasso Police station, which has a detention centre for juveniles.
The boy was at his Butler Village, Carapichaima home with his mother who is a nurse, early yesterday when they argued over her decision to take away his cellphone. The teen took a cutlass and chopped off her right hand at the wrist. He then chopped her several times on the back of the neck. As he left the house, his father met him and asked why he was not at school and why his clothes were soiled. The boy did not respond but rode off on his bicycle.
Mahabir-Wyatt: Don’t rush to judge teen yet
By Rhondor Dowlat
April 21, 2018 – guardian.co.tt
It could be “nature not nurture” which led a troubled 15-year-old boy to brutally attack his mother on Thursday, head of the Coalition of Domestic Violence, Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, said yesterday.
Calling on the public to take a pause before criticising on how the teenager was raised, Mahabir-Wyatt said scientific studies show there are genes associated with violent crime which lead people to commit violent acts.
“Some young people are born with violence in their DNA and research shows if you have a parent or grandparent who is quick to anger and had a propensity to violence, it was possible that you also could inherit violent genes. I cannot be sure if that is the case with this teenager. His action was so irrational,” Mahabir-Wyatt said. However, she noted that the mother’s decision to take away the boy’s cellular phone, which is being looked at as a possible trigger to the brutal attack, was normal.
Full Article : guardian.co.tt
Research studies in molecular psychiatry have identified a connection with genetic composition (genes) and violent behavior.
The number of “violent” genes are limited to two and it is estimated that only 10-20% of violent acts can be attributed to these genes.
Research has also shown that “imprinting” can occur when subjects are exposed to violence in society, domestically and even through the media.
In the case of T&T it is apparent that both genetics and psychological imprinting are relevant.
Are there other explanations for the primitive, heinous and gruesome crimes which are frequently committed in T&T?
Criminality in T&T has now transcended all races and social classes. No single ethnicity has a monopoly on crime .
*Criminality in T&T has now transcended all races and social classes. No single ethnicity has a monopoly on crime .*
Are you being a little ‘Trumpy’ here, TMan (His Ballad of Nikolas Cruz)?
I guess if he was a little older, he would hire ‘someone else’ to do it.
Please, TMan… Keep it real.
Any conscious mind, can only view this through the horrifying act that it is, some are willing to do their best in humanizing this callous development. What has become of not sparing the rod to spoil the child? and also, grow the child the way he/she should be grown, limiting disgrace and embarrassment to both family and public?, apparently, the father was part of the household, was he truly a father or a figure? in modern day Trinidad homes, Men are relegated to nothingness, while the Mothers,whose income in some cases are much than the Man, holds sway with the children, particularly the males.One thing that is clear, is that this youth man was a very spoil brat nurtured by his mother, his material well being is the Calaloo these stories are made of. Today,all sought of Genes concept are put into the equation, there may be some truth scientifically, but the Ancients tells us, First, adultery takes place, then a Murderer is born from it. He was the son of a Devil before; therefore,becomes a murderer of people now and kills his Mother/brothers/sisters.Every (sexual) intercourse of dissimilar people is Adultery. Trinidad parents, are paying and will continue to reap the ills of their short comings, believing that keeping their children happy and contended, is being able to provide the Worldly gifts of materialism, as oppose to being well rounded and structured, the reaping benefits, are what his mother is presently enduring. Tremendous lessons to be learnt, more to come.
RamK, just a little spoiled brat, whose parents probably asked his permission before doing anything. If he was a little older he might have buss a chop or two on the father too.
Don’t be surprised if people like Diana Mahabir-Wyatt says he is a victim. Be careful folks, taking away your child’s expensive cell-phone that your money bought, will be considered some sort of abuse.
The US military recruits 17 and 18 year olds because they are the prime fighting machines. Lot of muscle and no brains. Without speaking directly about the child behavior one can assume there was a build up of anger that lead to all of this.
Those who built this electronic empires kept their children away from these electronics because they know it stimulates the pleasure and addiction centers if the brain.
The kid one would assume was suffering from known withdrawal symptoms. Irritability, anger etc.
One thing is certain this family will not be the same again.
“A 15-YEAR-OLD form three Presentation College student
The teen, who was in his school uniform, with blood
As he left the house, his father met him and asked why he was not at school
I did it because my mother took away my cellphone the night before and I found it was unfair.”
The triangle of crime:Motivated offender, likely target, absent guardian.
Mom took away the cell phone which he found unfair- motivation.
Dad not at home- absent guardian
Mother alone at home without any support from anor adult- likely target.
He committed the act the following morning after getting ready for school. That is ample time for premeditation of harm. He left the mother untended after inflicting the wounds and left the scene of the act.
Three years older and he would be facing immediately, Wounding with intent if not attempted murder[for now].
I agree with Restorative Justice and rehabilitation but we need to be lenient where/when necessary as well as know when to punish. This bright Presentation student didnt just quarrel with his Mother about her choice of punishment he attempted to ensure that she could never do so again.