By ROSALEEN MACBRAYNE
TAURANGA - A 13-year-old boy whose mother alleged that he was bashed unconscious in a "frenzied attack" by up to 30 Tauranga Boys College students last week has been accused of starting the brawl.
Principal Graham Young said yesterday that he was considering whether to suspend the so-called victim
to demonstrate to him his "aggressive behaviour" was unacceptable.
Six fourth formers involved will appear at a board of trustees disciplinary hearing today.
Mr Young said he had investigated a complaint by Dianne Kay that her third form son, whom she did not want named in the media, had suffered a mass assault in the playground on March 28. She claimed he was punched and kicked unconscious.
Mr Young criticised media reports of the incident before it had been investigated by the school board and police, who have referred it to Youth Aid. He acknowledged there was a serious incident.
Mrs Kay's son had been at the college for nine weeks. On March 27, he and another student "jostled" each other, Mr Young said. The next day, the boy tried "to sort out" the other student. A fight erupted and Kay was assaulted by six or seven other students. There was no evidence Kay had lost consciousness.
Dianne Kay said she had hired a barrister "because, from day one, this school has tried to brush this under the carpet. But this is serious. That is why I went to the media."
The boy has not returned to school.
