Parents plead for 2nd chance for teen held over fisherman’s death

…Mother claims fight broke out over deceased’s derogatory behaviour towards girl

The parents of the 15-year-old boy who is being held in connection with the death of 55-year-old fisherman Asmat Mohamed Hussain are pleading for their son to be given a second chance, even as his mother acknowledged that he became involved in a confrontation that should have been avoided.
The teenager, a secondary school student who is expected to enter Fifth Form when school reopens, was taken into custody after Hussain died from injuries he sustained during an altercation in the vicinity of a supermarket at Dukestown, Corriverton.
Police did not disclose what allegedly triggered the encounter, nor have they provided details about the injuries which caused Hussain’s death, but subsequently identified the 15-year-old from No. 77 Housing Scheme, Corriverton, as the prime suspect.
Days after the fatal incident, the teen’s mother, Sherry Solomon, acknowledged the seriousness of what had occurred, while appealing for consideration to be given to her son’s age and future.

“I know that he did something that he wasn’t supposed to do. And as a mother, I take full responsibility for what he did. But I still feel [he is] small, and I feel he should get a chance for, you know, a forgiveness.”
She related that her son had been preparing to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations next year. “I only pray that he will come out in time to go back to school and continue his studies and, you know, get to write CXC,” the mother said.
Solomon also provided her son’s account of what allegedly occurred that night. It has not been independently verified.
According to Solomon, her son told her that he had been walking with a female friend and her younger brother when they encountered Hussain. She claimed her son told her that the fisherman was behaving in an uncouth manner towards the girl, which prompted him to intervene.
She said her son initially approached Hussain and warmed him about the derogatory language towards the girl and walked away, but the now dead man continued, thus resulting in a heated confrontation, and ultimately a physical scuffle.
Solomon said her son told her that he struck Hussain twice, causing him to fall and hit his head.

According to the mother, other persons subsequently became involved, and her son was also beaten before he managed to escape.
The mother further stated that she later went to the Police and reported that her son had been involved in a fight. She was given a medical form and took the teenager to hospital, where she subsequently learnt that Hussain was also there and was in critical condition.
She recalled her son’s disbelief when she told him about the fisherman’s condition.
“Mama, how the man could be fighting for his life? I just give he two cuff, how he fighting for his life?” she quoted her son as saying.
Hussain subsequently died, dramatically changing the scenario. The boy’s father, Hilton Solomon, was at work when he was informed that his son had been involved in an altercation.
He said he kept in contact with his wife and later went to the area where the incident had occurred. He stated that he had not been able to speak with his son following the incident because the teenager was already placed Police custody.
“I am very sorry. I am very hurt. And I do hope, you know, they look into it and just give him a chance,” the father said.
Solomon also expressed sympathy over Hussain’s death, and said he intended to reach out to the fisherman’s relatives. “It is so sad to know that the guy had to lose his life like that. You know, I’m very fearful. I do hope that everything goes well and, you know, he comes out and finishes schooling,” he said.
The father maintained that his son had not anticipated the fatal consequences of the confrontation.
“This is something he didn’t mean to do, you know. And he went in a little fight. And I think they should give him a second chance, you know. He really needs it, you know. He didn’t expect for anything to turn out like this way,” Solomon posited.
Meanwhile, after the fisherman’s death, his relatives reported that Hussain had been consuming alcohol with family members earlier on the fateful evening before leaving to purchase two beers from a nearby supermarket.
One of his relatives subsequently heard an alarm being raised and found Hussain lying unconscious. He was rushed to the Number 75 Regional Hospital, where he died while receiving medical attention.