Published date: 02 October 2015 |
Published by: Staff reporterRead more articles by Staff reporterEmail reporter
THREE teenagers involved in a “violent” attack which was captured on film and drew more than a million views on social media have been punished.
Three Wrexham area youths, who cannot be identified because of their ages, appeared in court yesterday.
Two 15-year-old girls admitted assault by beating their former friend, also aged 15, at Acton Park in Wrexham.
A 13-year-old boy admitted encouraging the assault by filming it but on the basis that he did not shout encouragement to the two girls during the attack.
Christine O’Kane, prosecuting at Wrexham Youth Court, said the four teenagers met at the park on August 17.
A statement from the victim said she had been friends with the other two girls for about four years and also knew the boy from school.
While socialising, the victim left to visit a shop but when she went back to the park she was accused of texting an ex-boyfriend of one of the other girls.
The first girl pulled her hair and the second girl stepped in.
The victim then fell to the ground and the first girl began punching her and kicking her, causing bruises and soreness to her back and neck.
The boy took out his phone and filmed the assault.
Footage from the video – which drew more than one million hits on Facebook – was played to the court.
Stephen Edwards, defending the first girl, said his client had been unable to attend school because of bad publicity she received after the video went viral and had also received death threats online.
He said a “red mist” had descended on his client, which was why she lashed out.
Kirit Champaneria, defending the second girl, said she had since apologised to her victim.
Ian Barnes, defending the boy, said he had filmed the assault in the “heat of the moment”. He sent it to someone else out of “naivety”.
He said filming and updating things on to social media was now instinctive behaviour for many young people.
The boy's mother also said that while he had sent the video to a friend via his mobile, he was not the one who had put it on Facebook.
Magistrates’ chairman Paul Galloway spoke to the defendants in turn, questioning their behaviour and the support they were receiving from their families.
He told the first girl her actions “almost beggar belief”.
“This was a very violent act by very young people against a young victim who was a friend,” he said.
“I dread to think what your enemies might suffer.”
He said the attack was “wholly out of proportion with the circumstances”.
Mr Galloway ordered each of the three defendants to have their behaviour monitored as part of a six-month referral Youth Justice Service order.
They would also each have to pay a total of £150 – £85 in costs, £50 in victim compensation and a £15 victim surcharge – and their parents would be liable for paying the money.
Article from - http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/153313/acton-park-teenage-attackers-violent-actions-beggared-belief-.aspx
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