The two brothers have name suppression. Photo / Alan Gibson
New details of the bullying of a Hastings schoolboy that was posted on the internet have been disclosed in court.
The 16-year-old victim went to the park knowing there would be a fight, but was hoping for a peaceful resolution.
He arrived to find a crowd of
youths and a "referee" for the fight. He did not run away, fearing it would aggravate the mob.
He was punched more than 20 times in the head, kicked and made to kiss the shoe of a bully, with the assault filmed and later posted on Youtube with a rap music soundtrack.
Two brothers, aged 14 and 16, appeared in Hastings Youth Court on Wednesday and formally admitted a charge of assaulting the boy.
The summary of facts read to the courtroom said that on March 30 a crowd of youths converged on the park and a referee began the fight stemming from a "historic issue" between the victim and the youngest brother.
The elder brother swung first and both fell to the ground, where the victim was punched repeatedly.
Police counted at least 13 "full-force" blows to the head of the victim, before he found his feet.
The younger brother then went towards the victim and "king hit" him, knocking him to the ground and punching his head area at least eight times.
The jeering crowd began to kick the victim in the head and body. The elder brother then bragged to the crowd saying: "See this bro, this is why you don't ... . with me or my family. See the blood on his face." He then made the victim kiss his shoe. "At this point the mob exploded with a chorus of approval," the summary said.
It said the footage was edited "adding rap music that glorifies violence" and posted on the YouTube website where it had 100 hits before being removed.
The brothers and two pupils were expelled from their school, which cannot be named due to a suppression order, following the assault. The brothers will reappear in court on June 12.
- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY
