Nov 8, 2007 2:04 pm US/Eastern
Court Favors Murdered Student's Family
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The Miami Dade School Board has been ordered by a judge to turn over public records about security at a middle school where a boy was stabbed to death.
Two years ago, the school board approved a $1.7 million settlement for the family of 14-year old Jaime Gough who died in 2004 at Southwood Middle School from more than 40 stab and slash wounds to his neck, face and hands.
The district's insurance company paid $500,000. The district itself paid $200,000 and agreed to help the Goughs get a claims bill passed in the Legislature so they could collect the remaining $1 million. In order to get the bill passed, the family says they need the security records the school district has refused to turn over.
Jorge Gough, Jaime's father, said the district has not been helping as they promised they would and have blocked their efforts to obtain the documents which include information about a security consultant the district hired after Jaime died.
"We feel these records should be public. We don't want to have another kid killed in school," said Gough.
School Board Chairman Agustin Barrera insists the district isn't hiding anything.
"There is no intent in any way to hinder the family from receiving their claims bill," Barrera said.
Michael Hernandez, the teen accused of stabbing Jaime Gough, will go on trial in January. He faces a mandatory life prison sentence if convicted as an adult of first-degree murder.
The school district was brought to court by the family of Jaime Gough who claimed that officials have refused to turn over the records.
Two years ago, the school board approved a $1.7 million settlement for the family of 14-year old Jaime Gough who died in 2004 at Southwood Middle School from more than 40 stab and slash wounds to his neck, face and hands.
The district's insurance company paid $500,000. The district itself paid $200,000 and agreed to help the Goughs get a claims bill passed in the Legislature so they could collect the remaining $1 million. In order to get the bill passed, the family says they need the security records the school district has refused to turn over.
Jorge Gough, Jaime's father, said the district is not helping as promised. The documents include information about a security consultant the district hired after Jaime died. The family's attorney said the school district risks overrunning a deadline set by a special master appointed by the state Senate to examine the case.
"We feel these records should be public. We don't want to have another kid killed in school," said Gough.
School Board Chairman Agustin Barrera insists the district isn't hiding anything.
"There is no intent in any way to hinder the family from receiving their claims bill," Barrera said.
Michael Hernandez, the teen accused of stabbing Jaime Gough, will go on trial in January. He faces a mandatory life prison sentence if convicted as an adult of first-degree murder.
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