By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
A MONTEGO Bay father broke down in tears recently when a probation officer told him that he would have to take responsibility for his son. Not only did he weep, but he also expressed fear and refused to even come to the court to deal with the matter.
Even so, the reluctant father could come face to face with his charge by this weekend if he does not turn up at the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's court on Friday.
Resident Magistrate Paulette Williams, had requested the presence of the father of Colin Murray who has been in jail for three years after he was arrested and charged for storehouse breaking and larceny. It was found out, however, that the younger Murray suffered from mental illness and was unfit to plea and has been in the lockup since then. He was said to be suffering from schizophrenia then but is recovered and is now fit to plea but will be released.
Murray appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's court on Wednesday, May 16, when the order was sent for his father to turn up at court on Monday.
The court was told on Monday, however, that the elder Murray was in tears when the probation officer spoke to him and said that he would not take responsibility for his son and also refused to even come to the court as he was said to be fearful.
The Resident Magistrate responded, however, that the jail system was already overcrowded with persons such as the younger Murray but said she intended to release him but hoped he would not end up on the streets.
Murray told the court that he had an aunt in Westmoreland who he could go to live with.
Colin Murray was alleged to have broken into a storeroom owned by his father in Mount Salem and stolen a quantity of items. Murray had told the court then, The Gleaner learned, that his mother had died leaving the items to him and he had gone to claim then.
