Mother charged in whipping of 13-year-old teenager in western Belize – did child discipline go too far?

Published by BBNTEAM at January 8, 2025

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Posted: Wednesday, January 8, 2025. 9:42 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: The mother of a 13-year-old minor appeared in court today on charges of harm and abetment to harm against her daughter, following an alleged whipping at home by both her and her partner, the girl’s stepfather.

The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared with defense attorney Norman Rodriguez where she was read the charges, to wit that she intentionally and unlawfully caused harm to the minor on November 30, 2024, and on December 1, 2024, purposely aided in the commission of a crime toward the minor by allegedly holding her while her stepfather beat her. The mother pleaded not guilty to both charges and bail of $600 and a surety was offered and met. She returns to court on March 7.

The student’s report to police alleges that she was questioned by her mother on the night of November 30 about certain images found on her laptop on a social media account; when she refused to respond, the mother allegedly beat her with a rope. Her stepfather came in and began asking what happened, then he went for another rope and allegedly administered his own lashing while the mother held the girl’s hands, causing pain and bruises. Following the discovery of the bruises at school, the Department of Human Services was informed and she was taken to a hospital for examination and subsequently removed from her mother’s home.

Attorney Rodriguez informed the court that on the next court adjournment where the case will be transferred to a Senior Magistrate, he would make submissions as it relates to the charges.

While limiting himself because of the serious allegations involved, Rodriguez was candid on why he took on the case: “This is a matter that I myself could have found myself in if I had a teenage child because I definitely would not be pleased if my child were to be in the same set of circumstances, which involves issues that are serious before any court of law, but that is a matter that will arise when we go to trial. I don’t see the charges going forward, at least the harm charge, because the facts would not supply the grounds for the establishment of the crime of harm in this case.” He added that the family has proof of what the child did wrong that led to the beating and that he has been instructed that the family made some attempt to get police involved concerning the behaviour of the child before the incident.

The case may turn on the issue of child discipline, as explained by Rodriguez: “The Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure) Act does speak to a parent disciplining a child and inflicting punishment; it sets a limit on how far the parent can go in disciplining the child…the infliction of harm on a child would not amount to something that could be called [or that is] outside of the punishment that parents can inflict. It is within the authority of the parent to punish a child or children in certain ways – this would not be one which they can establish based on the law.” The law specifies that a parent can discipline their child as long as the injury sustained does not accumulate to the offence of grievous harm.

Since the incident occurred, the Belize Human Services Department has been called in by the police to intervene on behalf of the minor, and the child was removed from the home where she was living with her mother and stepfather. The child, we are told, is now living with her biological father.

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