Mother Enters Not Guilty Plea To Child Cruelty Charge After Alleged Belt Injury
Alric Lindsay 
By Alric Lindsay
A 2027 trial date has been locked in for a local mother after she entered a formal not guilty plea to a serious charge of child cruelty.
The defendant appeared before the Grand Court this week to face an indictment charging her under Section 225(1) of the Penal Code. The charge stems from an incident alleged to have occurred on October 4, 2024, at a school.
The prosecution alleges that the mother committed an act of physical cruelty by repeatedly beating her child with a belt, resulting in bodily injuries. The court noted during the brief procedural hearing that the child has since turned 11 years old.
Represented by defence counsel, the accused stood in the dock and denied the single criminal count, setting the stage for a trial.
The prosecution did not offer any objections to the defendant’s pre-trial freedom. Presiding Judge Hon. Justice Richards extended the mother’s bail on standard terms, including a strict, mandatory condition to be of good behaviour and maintain the peace ahead of her trial.
A multi-day jury trial has been officially scheduled to commence on February 22, 2027.
Note to readers
The offence of cruelty to children is covered by section 225 of the Penal Code. This states as follows:
225. (1) A person who having attained the age of sixteen years, has responsibility for any child under that age and who — (a) wilfully assaults, ill-treats, neglects, abandons or exposes that child; or (b) causes or procures that child to be assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed, in a manner likely to cause that child unnecessary suffering or injury to health (including injury to or loss of sight, hearing, limb or organ of the body, and any mental derangement), commits an offence.
(2) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable — (a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine and to imprisonment for five years; or (b) on conviction by a summary court, to a fine of one thousand dollars and to imprisonment for six months.
