Boy of seven 'lynched' by gang of schoolchildren with 'homemade noose'

[giraffe]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1208491/Police-hunt-boy-gang-tried-hang-7-year-old-boy-noose.html

A gang of schoolboys tried to 'lynch' a seven-year-old with a home-made noose in a park in a chilling echo of the James Bulger case.
Bradley McLachlan was lured to a secluded area by three boys, all under ten, where they had already set up the rope.

They turned on him and pushed his head into the loop, tightened the knot and left him for dead, hovering a few inches above the ground and choking.

After a few moments Bradley managed to wriggle free and ran home in tears to his horrified grandmother.

He was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, Portsmouth, with ropeburn marks on his head and neck.

Police are appealing for information but admit that even if the boys are caught they are too young to be prosecuted.

'The police officers said he could have died if it wasn't for him being so small and light because he wouldn't have been able to lift himself out.

‘I felt sick and shocked that someone could do this, not least that other children had done it.

‘This wasn’t just a game that went wrong, it’s far more serious. I just can’t get my head around it.’

[Leanne Weich]

These kids need to be found and put in the British equivalent of juvie, imo. If they're capable of this at their young age, God knows what they'll do later on in life if they never have to face consequences for their actions.

[giraffe]

My understanding is that if the attackers are under 10 years old they cannot be held legally responsible in any way :thumbdown::sad:

[dulcinea]

I am beyond shocked. I am also disgusted that nothing can be done to them. Hopefully their parents will see they all need mental help of some sort at the very least. Thank GOD this child survived. I can't even begin to image his fear and pain.

[Amy]

My understanding is that if the attackers are under 10 years old they cannot be held legally responsible in any way :thumbdown::sad:

But it sure seems that they should be put in counseling or something. For authorities to just shrug their shoulders and say--"too young" isn't going to help any of these kids down the line. I guess, just each year, when they do something else (and someone might actually die) just let them go until they reach the ripe ol' age of 10, THEN try to rehab them in some way.