CDA to conduct psychiatric evaluation on 11 year old accused of murder

A team from the Child Development Agency (CDA) is to conduct a psychiatric evaluation on the 11 year old boy who is implicated in the fatal chopping of  a teenager in Lowe River in Trelawny on Monday.  

Floyd Green, State Minister for Youth, said the evaluation will ensure that the most suitable intervention is administered.  
  
Mr. Green said the boy is in need of care and protection.
  
Under the Child Care and Protection Act, a child below the age of 12 years old cannot be charged with a criminal offence.
  
In a statement on Wednesday, Mr. Green said the 11 year old boy will instead be taken before the Court and placed at one of the country’s Places of Safety.  
  
Oray Johnson, 14, was allegedly chopped to death by the 11 year old boy after the two had a verbal altercation on Monday evening.  
  
Reports are that the boys were coming from a shop when the dispute developed.  

The younger child went away and returned with a machete, which he used to inflict several chop wounds on Oray.

In the meantime, Mr. Green said a team from the Child Development Agency is to provide grief counseling to the affected families as well as children at the Albert Town High School where Oray attended. 
  
It is reported that the incident has left the community of Lowe River in shock. 
  
The CDA has reported that based on the tense atmosphere in the community, further intervention is needed. 
  
The agency said it will be working with the police to provide assistance to those affected.
  
The Government has also committed to assisting the family with funeral expenses.