REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Thursday August 23,2007

TWO teenage witnesses to an alleged stabbing at Robina were unable to read a simple oath in court.

The Robina High School students, aged 14 and 16, were in Southport Magistrates Court for the committal hearing of Tamika Anne Cameron.

Ms Cameron, of Nerang, was charged with one count of unlawful wounding and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm after stabbing a younger girl and wounding her friend during late-night shopping at Robina Town Centre on March 22, 2007.

The first boy, who said he did ‘not really’ believe in God, was told he would have to read the affirmation.

“Do you want me to read this?” he said, looking startled.

He put the card with the affirmation written on it up to his face and whispered something to a clerk.

Magistrate Dermot Kehoe saw the boy’s predicament and asked him if he needed help reading it.

”Yeah,” said the boy, who then repeated the affirmation as it was read by the clerk.

The second witness was also unable to read, slowly repeating the clerk’s words while gazing at the card.

None of the teenage witnesses had a clear understanding of what taking an oath on the Bible or an affirmation meant and Magistrate Kehoe explained to each of them that they could go to prison if they lied.

Cameron pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced, to 18 months’ jail, fully suspended, and Magistrate Kehoe ordered her to perform 150 hours of unpaid community service.