10,000+ people sign online petition demanding justice for beaten boy

Justice For Demarco!

That’s the rallying cry of over 10,000 thousand Barbadians who have signed a petition demanding action over an incident that left 10-year-old Demarco Gibbs brain dead.

Gibbs was struck in the head with pieces of wood by four of his playmates, his mother reported in another section of the media.

The incident which has drawn the ire of Barbadians has also led to the start of a petition by popular blogger Stephanie Chase of The Chase Files on change.org.

Chase said, “This morning I am sad to report that 10-year-old Demarco Gibbs is now brain dead. He was beaten by four boys and struck in the back of the head, suffering brain damage from the incident. There is nothing more the medical team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital can do for him and they have done their utmost best. His mother Tricia Gibbs is totally distraught.”

Chase made an impassioned plea for the perpetrators to be held accountable for their actions. She is calling for changes to laws that protect minors from criminal prosecution.

“The laws of Barbados need to be amended to charge children as adults when they commit heinous crimes. Their parents must also be held accountable. The time for change is now!”

Chase also cited the recent case involving three young people who were found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the unlawful killing of 11-year-old Ian Elroy Gibson, a Princess Margaret Secondary School student, on September 20, 2009,

During the trial the jury heard that the deceased came into contact with a car driven by Gian Holder on Sunbury Road, St Philip on September 18, 2009 after being in an altercation with the three, who also attended the same school. He died from his injuries two days later at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Chase insisted: “it must stop…charge them!! The time for change is now!”