6 in custody for brutal beating of 14-y-o in Clarendon
Published:Wednesday | January 3, 2024 | 12:12 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
A 52-year-old Clarendon woman is among six females taken into police custody in connection with the brutal December 30 beating of a 14-year-old girl along Holland Street in Denbigh in the parish.
According to the police, a 15-year-old is also among the alleged attackers to be charged in the incident.
Police say the battered 14-year-old girl, who received several head injuries, remains admitted in serious condition.
It is unclear what spurred the incident.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) said the agency was investigating the matter, “and stands ready to provide the necessary support to the child and her family, in keeping with our mandate”.
Pinned against wall
The almost-minute-long video of the near-deadly daylight brawl has been making the rounds on social media platforms.
The video shows the teen pinned against a wall, while several females applied blows and kicks to her body. Another woman walked in with an object and started hitting the young girl in the head, after which she was dragged to the ground by another woman.
Plaits of braids were also viciously plucked from the girl’s head.
While on the ground, the beating continued, while a voice in the background shouted, “Nuh kill him. Nuh kill him!”
The incident is a bitter and gloomy case of déjà vu, as several social media users have likened the incident to the November 2020 near-death tragedy, in which then 17-year-old Kaylan Dowdie was allegedly ganged up on and beaten by a group of women at a party in Papine, St Andrew. After a dreaded 18-month-long hospital stay, and several surgeries, Dowdie’s family had reported a mounting hospital bill for more than $40 million.
The defendants in Dowdie’s case are set to return to court on February 20.
Althea Grant-Francis, counselling psychologist, told The Gleaner she was moved by the incident, and cited the negative influence of adults among contributing factors to the increase of violent conflicts among teens.
“More and more teenagers are getting into serious fights, and even adults are getting involved instead of discouraging it. The surge in teens engaging in violent conflicts may stem from a combination of factors, including societal pressures, lack of effective communication skills, and the negative influence of adults who should be guiding them towards peaceful resolutions,” she said.
She theorised that promoting emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution skills within schools could stem the issue.
“Adolescents often struggle with impulse control and emotional regulation, exacerbating misunderstandings. To address this issue, it is crucial to increase the promotion of emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills within school curricula and foster open communication channels among parents, educators, and teens,” said Grant-Francis.
She stressed, too, the importance of adults in setting good examples by promoting understanding instead of joining in on aggressive behaviour.
She added: “Building a sense of community and togetherness is crucial. We need everyone to support each other and create an environment where violence isn’t the answer.”