WA: Bully teen knew what he was doing was wrong, prosecutor

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2008
WA: Bully teen knew what he was doing was wrong, prosecutor

A court in Perth has heard a schoolboy who threatened a 13-year-old classmate with
an axe during a six hour pack bullying attack .. knew it was wrong but was easily led.

The 14-year-old boy has faced a sentencing hearing in the Perth Children's Court today
after pleading guilty to deprivation of liberty .. threats to harm and assault in the
six-hour torture of the boy in June 2007.

The boy and three co-accused took their victim into bush in the Perth hills .. hung
him from a tree by his underpants .. whipped him with a thorny branch and forced him to
lie in a makeshift grave.

His lawyer BELINDA LONSDALE told the court her client was the only one of the bullies
who had called for the attack to stop.

But she said he continued because he was easily led and vulnerable.

Ms LONSDALE said her client is sorry for his actions.

State prosecutor SEAN STOCKS said the boy knew it was wrong and utterly unacceptable.

But despite telling the others at one point to leave their victim alone .. the accused
boy then picked up an axe and made threats.

Mr STOCKS described it as an exceptionally culpable act .. and says the victim was
demonised and terrorised during the degrading episode.







Five boys were charged over the attack last year.

Charges against one were discontinued today because prosecutors said there was no reasonable
chance of conviction.

The alleged ringleader has pleaded not guilty and will go on trial later this year.

One boy has already pleaded guilty and been sentenced to eight months juvenile detention.

The remaining two boys have also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in the court next week.

AAP RTV ah/lk/ah/crh/bart

KEYWORD: BULLY (PERTH)

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