Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh today sentenced a young mother of two, to three years’ probation for causing grievous bodily harm to her 9-year-old son.
According to the facts from the police, the 29-year-old woman placed a hot iron on both of her son’s hands, his mouth and his nose.
The incident occurred in April 2018 when the boy was visiting her Villa home as he does each weekend.
The matter reached the police when a teacher observed burn marks on the student and reported it to the authorities.
The woman was subsequently arrested and charged.
Her Attorney, Michael Archibald told the court today that the woman was trying to teach the child right from wrong but went overboard.
The Magistrate also shared that a social inquiry report submitted by a social worker did not indicate that it was an accident.
But the lawyer argued for the woman to be placed on probation instead of being placed behind bars because she was struggling at the time, has since gotten counselling, spent time in jail and is not in possession of her children.
Archibald also reminded the Magistrate that a Judge granted probation to a man who put his child’s hand in hot water.
The woman was sentenced in the St. John’s Magistrates’ Court.
