STABBED: Kimlyn Roberts points to one of the stab wounds her 15-year-old daughter Theoca Bonaparte received in a near-fatal attack by a gang of school children, two Fridays ago. -Photo: Steve McPhie
TWO teenage schoolgirls are expected to appear before a Port of Spain Magistrate today charged with the near-fatal stabbing of a Form Four pupil of the Barataria Senior Comprehensive School.
Fifteen-year-old Theoca Bonaparte, who sustained seven stab wounds to her head, chest and back, pointed out the two female suspects, aged 16 and 17, in a police identification parade on Saturday.
And the incident, which almost claimed Bonaparte's life, has left acting Police Commissioner James Philbert again answering claims of negligence by his officers.
It all began after school ended two Fridays ago, Bonaparte, who is recovering at her family's Champs Fleurs home, said in an interview with the Express yesterday.
Bonaparte said she was walking to the Priority Bus Route with a school friend when they approached by a group of seven people dressed in varying school uniforms.
During that altercation Bonaparte was stabbed once in her chest, twice in her head and four times in her back. The attackers then ran off.
However, a passing soldier was able to apprehend the gang's apparent leader, who delivered the near-fatal blow to Bonaparte's chest. She was taken to the nearby Barataria Police Station.
Beaten and bleeding, Bonaparte was also taken to the station, by some school friends.
However, Bonaparte claimed she was forced to wait in the station's compound.
After waiting some 30 minutes Bonaparte began experiencing difficulties breathing, she said.
Without any police assistance, Bonaparte was rushed to Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope by her schoolmates.
"Ten minutes later and she would have died," Bonaparte's mother, Kimlyn Roberts was told by doctors.
The single stab wound to Bonaparte's chest punctured one of her lungs, Roberts said.
Bonaparte received eight stitches to the two wounds on her head, along with stitches to her back and chest wounds.
She spent five days fighting for her life in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit but was eventually discharged on Tuesday.
However, now Bonaparte is unable to move her right arm freely.
Following the alleged inaction by the Barataria police, Roberts met with acting top cop Philbert last Monday. Philbert promised a thorough investigation into the incident, Roberts said.
Investigations are continuing.
