More info emerge about physical abuse case involving PE teacher at HWT Primary

More information has surfaced over the physical abuse case involving a Half Way Tree Primary School physical education teacher who was sanctioned in court recently. On October 22., Half Way Tree Primary School physical education teacher Jermaine Jones was fined $30,000 and ordered to do one year of counseling having pleaded guilty to child abuse in the St Andrew Parish Court. However, Tanisha Walker, the mother of the child, says she is disappointed with the court ruling.

But a source close to Jones who declined an interview, met with RJR and TVJ Sports to explain jones' side of the story. He said Jones admitted to hitting the child with a baton on the leg and buttocks, after noticing that the child was provoking some dogs which were across a fence close to the school’s playfield.

A medical report submitted to the school following the incident, dated April 9, showed that the child had a bruise and swelling to the posterior aspect of his left leg. Walker also presented RJR Sports with pictures which she said support her claims.

However, the report also said that there were abrasions to the upper and mid-back, which the source denied were inflicted  by Jones. Walker also claims her son who was 6 years old at the time of the incident, suffers from epilepsy.

But Jones' representative presented RJR Sports with a copy of a medical certificate which didn't show any prior illnesses for the child. Jones' representative also showed RJR Sports a copy of the minutes of a meeting in which Jones, principal Carol O'Connor-Clarke and Walker were present and which stated that Jones apologized repeatedly for the incident.

In the meantime, chairman of the school's board, Claudette Rickards says they took no further action against Jones following the ruling because they were satisfied that the teacher had no ill intent.

Meanwhile, Walker and her attorney have confirmed that they will be going ahead with a civil suit against Jones, the Ministry of Education and the school as she says her son is still suffering emotionally from the incident. Walker says she has since pulled her son from doing physical education at the school.