Students making up an entire class in Germany have been accused of filming their torture of a new pupil and posting clips on the Internet.
The 11 pupils, aged between 16 and 18, went on trial on Tuesday, facing between them a 31-page list of charges that include beating, kicking and sexually humiliating their victim, identified only as Dieter, 18.
PHOTO: EPA
The attacks started only weeks after Dieter joined the Werner-von-Siemens school in Hildesheim, near Hanover. His classmates took him to a storeroom, where they stripped and severely beat him. They went on beating him at least twice a week for two months.
Different students participated in torture sessions, which became more frequent and cruel. By the end Dieter was being stabbed with screwdrivers, forced to eat chalk and to chew cigarette butts as well as occasionally having a bucket placed over his head while his attackers took turns pummelling him with their fists.
The students are charged with a total of 26 attacks. They allegedly filmed the abuse with a digital camera.
Dieter claims that one of his teachers failed to help despite knowing what was going on. The attacks ended only after a school psychologist was called in to treat Dieter, who was suffering from depression and other psychological problems.
Four alleged ringleaders were taken into custody in February and all 11 were due to appear in a closed court session yesterday, but the proceedings were delayed after one boy failed to appear.
Police arrested the 17-year-old at his home, taking him directly to the courtroom where the trial recommenced.
Two of the alleged ringleaders began their defense with a public apology for their cruelty, and a third had written a letter to Dieter asking for forgiveness before the trial opened.
An education ministry spokesman said the class had been dissolved and the seven students considered more minor players would be moved into other classes or schools.
The public prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into Dieter's teacher. A spokesman said: "There is a suspicion that [the teacher] knew about the abuse and did not intervene."
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