By ALEXANDER BRUZUAL Saturday, February 4 2012

ARLENE BLACKMAN, 67, the principal of Blackman’s Private School in Maraval yesterday appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate charged with willfully assaulting two school children last week Tuesday.

Blackman stood in silence as she appeared before Magistrate Christine Charles in the Fifth Court.

She was represented by attorneys Pamela Elder SC and Richard Mason. Blackman was charged under Section 3(1) of the Children’s Act 46:01.

Because of the age of the two victims — a ten-year-old boy and a nine-year-old boy — their names are to be withheld from the public for the remainder of the judicial proceedings.

The charges allege that on Tuesday January 24, at Blackman’s Private School, Arlene Blackman, as a person who had custody, charge, or care of the two children, did wilfully assault the children in a manner which was likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to their health.

No recommendation for summary trial was made by court prosecutor Sgt Anderson Gonzales, and as such, Blackman was not called upon to enter a plea. Elder made a formal application for disclosure of evidence in the matter on behalf of her client, and the matter was then adjourned to February 16 for mention.

If convicted, Blackman could face a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment of up to six months.

The charges were laid by police constable Ferrette and Cpl Rennie Grant, of St Clair Police Station and Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigations Department (CID), respectively.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC, gave the instructions to charge the principal on Thursday night.