NEW ZEALAND – Police are making inquiries after a student at a Dunedin school was reportedly badly beaten by fellow pupils who repeatedly kicked and punched him in a vicious assault.
Footage of the attack on the student was posted to social media and widely circulated, causing outrage among parents.
The boy is said to have been cornered in a school bathroom by two other students, one punching him in the face after he asked them why they were assaulting him.
One attacker is said to have smirked to the camera, before the boy was punched again.
In an apparent effort to stop the attack he reportedly pulled out his wallet to offer it to his assailants, before they repeatedly punch him and kick him.
Otago Boys’ acting rector Andrew King reportedly said the school took the safety of its students seriously and a formal disciplinary process at a board level was being taken.
Support was being offered to the pupils involved.
“We assure our school community that this incident is being dealt with appropriately,” King said.
According to the 67-second clip showed two pupils cornering the victim, before repeatedly punching him.
The victim reportedly asked: “Why are you doing this?” before being punched.
Another pupil declined to join in the attack, saying he did not have a problem with the boy.
The victim reportedly told the attackers he did not want to fight, and his head was repeatedly knocked into a wall as he was hit, before being kicked in the leg as he tried to walk away.
The attackers reportedly said: “You won’t f…ing snitch, aye? You won’t f…ing snitch?”
The attack has been reported to police. “Police are aware and have received a report of a serious assault at Otago Boys’ High School on June 15 and are making inquiries,” a police spokesperson said.
