Boy, 5, 'beaten to death with belt' after uncle sees low grades on school report

James Alberto Caicedo, 38, beat his nephew Yosuar Smith Cabrera, 5, to death as punishment for receiving low grades in school. Yosuar was pronounced dead as soon as he arrived to the hospital

A child was allegedly beaten to death by his uncle with a belt after he saw that he hadn't done well with his school grades.

Yosuar Smith Cabrera, 5, was raced to hospital after enduring severe injuries when he was lashed ten times in Columbia. His uncle, James Alberto Caicedo, 38, allegedly launched the brutal punishment after he looked at his school report.

After the attack, he allegedly told Yosaur to go to the bathroom to clean himself up. He later discovered him lying unconscious on the floor and took him to a medical centre close-by. Sadly, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

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According to reports, Yosuar was under his uncle's care whilst his mum was in prison. His father had re-located to another city. Dr. César González, assistant manager of the San Antonio de Padua Departmental Hospital, recalled a conversation he had with his uncle.

“His uncle reported that, due to poor school results, he proceeded to physically punish him, consisting of 10 lashes with a belt," he claimed. “He then decided to bring him to the hospital, unfortunately, with no vital signs.”

The medical report said Yosuar had suffered severe blows to his torso, abdomen, and extremities, causing serious injuries that led to his death. The boy’s violent death shocked residents in the rural municipality of La Plata located south of Medellín, Colombia.

 

The authorities moved swiftly to capture the suspect, who has since been charged with aggravated homicide. The police said he already had a criminal record for drug trafficking and illegal possession of weapons. He is currently being held in a pre-trial detention centre.

 

Yosuar's mother, Michel Caicedo, who is being held in a prison in Bogotá, was denied permission to attend her son's funeral. But her fellow inmates organised a collection to transport Yosuar's body to the capital where he was laid to rest on Tuesday.

The police reiterated their commitment to fighting violence, which continues to seriously affect children in Colombia. The investigation continues.

Anyone who is concerned about child abuse can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000. Alternatively, you can get in touch with Childline on 0800 1111. If the person is in immediate risk, call the police on 999.