A 44-year-old mother of three, pleaded guilty to hurting her son and daughter and was given a stern warning after being granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal on 1 July, after being found to be suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the incidents.
She had used a pair of scissors to cut her then-12-year-old son’s forearm on three occasions, as well as slapping her then-13-year-old daughter and throwing a light bulb at her in 2020.
The identity of the woman cannot be revealed due to a court order protecting the identity of the children.
She had pleaded guilty on 25 May to three charges, including two counts of voluntarily causing hurt to two of her three children.
A report was then called to assess the woman’s suitability for a mandatory treatment order, where she will undergo treatment for her mental condition in lieu of imprisonment.
A spokesperson for the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said that “after assessing the facts and circumstances of the case, including the accused’s mental state at the time of the offences, a stern warning was administered to the accused and the prosecution applied for a discharge amounting to an acquittal for the charges, which was granted by the court.”
A discharge amounting to an acquittal essentially means the woman cannot be charged again with the same offences.