This was a major headline media story because it is a very unusual thing to happen.
Benjamin Phikhohpoom (by his name I guess he is of Thai heritage) was abducted in a well to do area while walking home from a very good school in the local area of Caulfield in the greater area of Glen Eira. This is dominantly a Jewish area. Is that relevant? Maybe. But I can't see Benjamin as being a target by hatred of Jews.
Media informs me that the fifteen year old lad was pulled into a car by three teenagers who demanded his phone and personal belongings. He was stabbed, thrown out of the car and dragged for 150 metres and then, run over.
He spent a long time in a coma but eventually recovered but not quite to the full extent. The television news subtitled his speech last night. But I could understand him easily.
He is back at school, albeit part time.
Photo from the Herald Sun.
What a marvellous country Australia is, clean, green, neat and safe.
From the English Daily Mail.
The three teenagers who allegedly carried out the attack were arrested and charged following the incident.
All three have been granted bail and are set to face a children's court at a later date.
One of the alleged offenders, a 14-year-old boy, faces 70 charges relating to several armed robberies and multiple counts of theft.
The reasonable part of my brain says if convicted, the perpetrators should serve a gaol sentence, understand the gravity of what they did and undergo rehabilitation before being released back into society.
The emotional part of my brain says why attack an innocent kid on his way home from school? Lock the fuckers up and throw away key for these wasters of society.
It will be interesting to see what the courts decide and you can bet the sentences will be mild.
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I missed this story. How awful. And I am with you about the sentencing.
ReplyDeleteIt is just so despicable EC. I'm amazed at how well the lad is doing mentally. I am not sure I would be doing the same.
DeleteIt seems that we bend over backwards to 'understand' these juvenile delinquents to such an extent that justice takes a back seat. That poor kid - will he ever recover fully?
ReplyDeleteJB, I really don't know how well he will recover. He is young and that makes me hopeful. It is pure cruelty and I struggle with the thoughts that the alleged perpetrators can be rehabilitated.
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ReplyDeleteYour comment was fine JayCee and at the very least...
DeleteVery sad but when did punishing people improve their behavior? How would you yourself feel if you were beaten? Or how would you feel if you were given kindness and educated to live a better life?
ReplyDeleteChris, as I said in the post, I am conflicted. Perhaps there are just bad people in the world, and one lad with seventy odd charges against him might be one of them. You describe the ideal and that is what our system aims for, but at times it just does not work.
DeletePunishment does not mean being beaten, it is more locking away in remand centres and being rehabilitated.
DeleteI hear both sides of your brain. Please keep us posted on this.
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Thanks Sandra. The next update will probably be the sentence and it will take time.
DeleteThere needs to be some kind of punishment, jail sentence or otherwise, along with therapies and rehabilitation. But these boys should not be allowed to walk around free for several years at the minimum.
ReplyDeleteBob, I agree with you but some just do not respond well to therapy and rehab, but they can put on a good act that have.
DeleteSad. I don't understand why someone wants or need to hurt anther human.
ReplyDeleteI know Dora. Why do people want to hurt other people.
DeleteThe argument that they are too young to understand that what they do is wrong is hogwash and poppycock. A seven year old knows right from wrong. These kids have done something very wrong and should be treated accordingly. A slap on the wrist is not a punishment nor a deterrent. Can they be rehabilitated? Glad I am not the one having to make the decision.
ReplyDeleteMerlot, it said that criminal responsibility is not there until mid teen years. I agree with you. It begins much earlier. In fact your parents will tell you or your siblings to not hurt your brother or sister if you bonk them on the head or pinch them. Yes, not our decision but you know what side our justice system errs on.
DeleteHow awful. Yet, here? These things happen daily. This is not an exaggeration.
ReplyDeleteDebby, I wish you not telling the truth. I don't know. Is it mostly confined to a couple of demographics?
DeleteCan't help wondering if the race of the vic played a role.
ReplyDeleteBoud, maybe. Asian people can been seen as easier targets.
DeleteI saw the story 2 years ago. It was certainly chilling.
ReplyDeleteIt was chilling Roentare and I think it was only September 2023, last year. It is awful to hear of complete innocents being victims.
DeleteThe thugs waited outside the school with boxcutters, waiting for Benjamin specifically, or anyone else unaccompanied by an adult. Yet the thugs were let out on bail, to be brought back to the CHILDREN'S court at some uncertain time in the future. Attempted murder is an adult crime.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware of that Hels. Should one of them 70 charges against him pending really be on bail?
Delete"One of the alleged offenders, a 14-year-old boy, faces 70 charges relating to several armed robberies and multiple counts of theft."
ReplyDeleteAt 14 this repeat offender knows fully that what he is doing is wrong and he definitely should face some jail time. Several months in a Youth Remand centre at least! If the others have similar previous charges they shuld get the same.
But WHY do this horrendous thing in the first place? Do they not stop to think "what if he was me and someone was doing these things to me? Or to my brother/sister?" Silly question I guess since they clearly DON'T think.
River, after reading your comment, I think they lack the emotional quality of empathy. Several months in custody is way too low for their cruel crime, as I see it.
DeleteThis is one event that passed me by as well. To have been picked up and reported on in the Daily Mail (I believe referred to as The Daily Fail in UK) seems odd. How long ago did it happen?
ReplyDeleteCathy, yes the paper is not one of good repute. I established the alleged culprits were caught in early September last year and I think it was early September when the crime was committed.
DeleteOh how dreadful for the young man, the pain they have caused, these young ones, but the justice system is not good. The young boys know what they are doing, they couldn't care less it's something for them to brag about unfortunately. They should be jailed for life which is longer than 25 years..
ReplyDeleteOf course they would know Margaret, I think they were underage drivers in a stolen car. Whatever rehab in gaol might occur, I doubt they will turn out to be good citizens of our country. They'll soon be back in gaol for another crime. We had a lifetime of seeing how it all works.
DeleteThe poor boy. I do remember the story. The punishement should be worse.
ReplyDeleteDiane, punishment to the extreme, as the emotional part of my brain wants.
DeleteCan society help him recover, and the others understand and change their ways.
ReplyDeleteTP, in spite of the horrific experience, I think the victim will recover. I've no doubt the perpetrators come from a very disadvantaged background.
DeleteThe worse the crime, the more tempting to try a minor as an adult. But that view can be contradictory when the entire society (as it increasingly is here in the United States) is geared towards "protecting" minors, be it in the form of statutory rape laws, laws governing the sale of alcohol and cigarettes, parental controls on smart TVs, school truancy, curfews, child labor laws, etc. Either their adults or they're not, and if they're not, then how they're treated by the criminal justice system should follow suit. But like you, that's just the rational side of my brain talking. If the crime is horrific enough, even if committed by a two-year-old, the emotional side threatens to take over.
ReplyDeleteIt is complicated Kirk and generally a throw away the key stance doesn't get good long term results, but with many of the teen crims now, the recidivism rate is so high, in spite of what is done for them when in custody.
DeleteWas the motive just robbery, or did the thugs target that boy for racial reasons? In the USA, a racist motive usually intensifies the penalty through so-called "hate crimes" legislation.
ReplyDeleteI think just robbery Steve, and while Asian people may seem easier targets, I doubt that race was a motivation. If it was, then it would also be classed as a hate crime.
DeleteThis treatment of anyone makes me almost physically ill. I always wonder what kind of parents raise such violent thugs. Are they too busy? Or are the children inherently twisted? I understand that Jeffrey Dahmer's folks tried to get him help and were devastated by his crimes. The world is so sad; I wish you joy in each day, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteDarla, I don't know any parents who have raised monsters. From the moment some kids are born, you can tell by the parents behaviour in public as to how the kids will turn out. It is sad. They really have so little chances in life.
DeleteYour reply is true, and I agree with Kylie's comment below. Be well.
DeleteIt's a hard one Darla.
DeleteI wrote a long comment here a couple of days ago and somehow lost it so I'm very late.
ReplyDeleteMy instinct says that people who do these kinds of things should be locked up forever and in terms of protecting the public that might be necessary. I'm not sure.
Having said that, all the research shows that sending kids to detention just makes them more hardened and increases criminality. The research also says that investment in children in the early years around 0-5, is what really makes the difference to their long term prospects so if society has failed these perpetrators, maybe we need to be looking at other options both for what we do with violent offenders and how we deal with at risk infants.
I'm always suspicious of the whole retribution model. It hasn't been seen to be effective in any way
Kylie, I think early intervention in families has to be a starting point. Given the criminal recidivism rate, gaoling doesn't seem to be much of a deterrent.
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