The father of a 7-year-old boy whose stepfather was on Monday jailed for abusing the child, says he is not satisfied with the nine-month prison sentence.
Orlando Browne of Georgetown, however, told iWitness News that he accepts the sentence of the court, although he thinks that Calvert John, 31, should have been jailed for two years.
On Monday at the Colonaire Magistrate’s Court — sitting in Georgetown, Magistrate Rickie Burnett imposed the prison sentence on John.
The man was found guilty of abusing the child who he beat viciously with a belt on Nov. 7, 2017, resulting in injuries to his head, hand, and side.
The incident occurred one day after the child’s Guyana-born mother, went to that country for a visit.
John’s defence all but fell apart when the child’s injuries were shown to the court.
He told the court that he had beaten the child because an examination of his schoolbooks suggested that he had not done any work in class.
The boy’s older sister, with whom he shares both parents, painted John as an abusive stepfather.
The girl, who turns 12 this month, told the court that her stepfather beats their mother in their presence.
She further said that he had placed a password on a laptop that her father bought for her and uses it to DJ at parties.
The stepfather and the children’s mother lives in the marital home of the children’s biological parents.
Browne told iWitness News that he and his wife are going through a divorce.
He said he heard on streets of the abuse of his son the day after it happened and went to the children’s school.
The staff at the school had already reported the matter to the Social Welfare Department.
The laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadine say that anyone who has custody of a child at any time and knows or reasonably suspects that the child is being or has been abused must report it to the authorities.
Browne decided to press charges against his children’s stepfather.
The court heard that the boy had reported the beating to his sister.
When they went to school the following day, the sister reported the matter to her teacher.
Browne told iWitness News that he would now file for custody of the children, saying that although he makes the child support payments ordered by the court, he is not satisfied with the children’s situation.
i strongly agree with the father of the children ….look at the boy back for Christ sake , beating him is not going to make him any better in his school work. helping him will be a better choice, i understand you might get frustrated but verbal abuse isnt going to do anything .
That’s a son of ah bitch he should of get more time in jail stupid guy.
Before he help the child with his homework he beat the child look at his back that guy want his ass beat
That baggage Analfabeto