Magistrate hears mother’s plea and releases son from remand

A young man has his mother to thank for his release from prison.

Khalil Lavaar Hurley, 22, an apprentice who has no fixed place of abode, was given a suspended sentence by Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes because of his mother’s plea not to send him back to prison.

Hurley had been on remand at HMP Dodds since June 28 after pleading guilty to four charges. He admitted to damaging two windows belonging to Tenisia Hurley on June 7, 2021 without lawful excuse, and damaging four windows also belonging to Hurley on June 8.

He had also pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding Rijahri Brathwaite as well as assaulting a minor, both on June 7, 2021.

When he appeared before Weekes in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court which is currently sitting in the Supreme Court, the convict told the court that “things were rough” at the prison.

The Chief Magistrate told him that his mother had informed the court that she did not want him to go back to prison, despite the fact that he had damaged her property.

He then convicted, reprimanded and discharged him on the charges of damaging the windows and gave him two six-month suspended sentences for 18 months on the remaining two matters.

“Go home but stay away from your mother and your sister. You have to stay out of trouble for the next 18 months or you will go back to prison. Behave yourself and stay out of trouble. You’re going home today,” the Chief Magistrate told Hurley, who flashed a broad smile upon hearing the news.