DPP dismisses media reports

Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn has dismissed media reports that an eleven year-old boy was brought before the Home Circuit Court on a carnal abuse charge.



Miss Llewellyn made the disclosure today when the group of boys implicated in the incident appeared in the Home Circuit Court for sentencing.



The four boys had pleaded guilty last month to carnal abuse and Acting Supreme Court Judge Bertram Morrison had put off sentencing until today.



Miss Llewellyn said proper checks were made as to the boys\' ages before they were taken to court.



She said three of the boys were 13 and the other was 14.



The boys\' mothers who were in court confirmed the ages.



The judge said he had made checks as to the ages of the boys before the guilty plea was accepted.



The court was told that the boys who attend a junior high school in Kingston sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in February.



Attorney-at-law Heather Sutherland who is representing the boys was not at court today.



The judge said there was no communication from the lawyer explaining her absence.



He then ordered that Sutherland attend court tomorrow at 10 a.m. to show why she should not be cited for contempt of court.



Sentencing has been set for October 24 because the social enquiry reports are not ready.