PAST SERVOL student Darryl Mahabir went to court Friday for possession of marijuana.

He ended up giving testimony to a group of students from the La Romaine Servol Centre who were visiting the court as part of their Adolescent Development Programme. Mahabir spoke to the 30 youngsters seated in the San Fernando Second Magistrates' Court of his regret for getting into trouble with the law when he was charged with possession of marijuana on May 9.

He warned the teens to listen to their parents and teachers and he told of his experience in prison which he said he would never want to repeat. Mahabir was then placed on two years probation by magistrate Melvin Daniel.

"It is hard having to deal with young people," Daniel admitted to the group, making reference to the youths who appeared before him in court.

He advised the teenagers on punctuality after their teacher Sharlene Williams told him this was an issue with the students. "Never play with time as you would never have it back," Daniel told them.

Hazel Moore-Thomas, another teacher with the group told the Express that bringing the students to court to get a first hand view of the system was all part of the programme.