St Kitts: Police charge mother with harming 12-year-old son

Police said Saturday they have charged a 34-year-old mother with harming a juvenile.

In a terse statement, police said "Kimberly Liburd of Mansion Village (has been charged) for the offence of Inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm on a juvenile which was committed in Mansion Village on January 21, 2019."

No other information was given by the police.

The police charge raises the issue of the children remaining in the custody of the mother.

A legal source on Friday indicated that the mother had lawful custody of the children as a result of an earlier High Court order.

Reports last Thursday indicated a 12-year-old, a second form high student had suffered severe burns about his body as a result of still unexplained circumstances.

Child Protection Services removed the boy and a younger sibling, a daughter of pre-school age, but new information indicates it was the mother who took the matter to court to retain custody of the daughter, but the sitting Magistrate ruled that both children must be returned to the mother.

A reliable source said the magistrate in remarks on the bench said the children's birth certificate does not have on the father's last name and she does not know if he is their real father so she cannot send them to the father.