The end of innocence
05jun05
A 12-year-old British girl was charged yesterday with seriously harming a five-year-old boy found alone earlier this week with marks around his neck.
The girl was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm to Anthony Hinchliffe and with attempting to pervert the course of justice in the case in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in northern England, police said.
She is scheduled to appear at Dewsbury Youth Court on June 10.
She was one of two girls and three boys aged between 11 and 12 arrested this week over Tuesday's incident. The four others were freed yesterday, while she was re-arrested and kept in custody.
Detectives said they were no longer looking for anyone else in the case.
A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire police said the girl had been placed in the care of a youth offending team.
Police refuse to confirm if Anthony, on a half-term school break, sustained his injuries in an attempted hanging.
The boy was taken to hospital after being discovered in woodland near Dewsbury in a distressed state with bruising to his body.
He was released on Wednesday afternoon and then interviewed by police.
Detectives are investigating claims the attack was inspired by a TV screening of Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.
The movie, starring Kevin Costner, includes a sequence in which a boy narrowly escapes being strung up from a tree. There are a number of other hanging scenes.
It was shown on BBC1 on Bank Holiday Monday, just 24 hours before Anthony was lured into woods and apparently had a noose tied around his neck.
Six years ago, an eight-year-old boy in New Zealand hanged himself after watching the same film in what his parents believe was an attempt to copy the film.
West Yorkshire police confirmed they were aware of the theory.
There was also concern that, by showing the film at 5.45pm, the BBC flouted rules stating films including hanging should not be screened before 9pm.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/com...55E663,00.html
05jun05
A 12-year-old British girl was charged yesterday with seriously harming a five-year-old boy found alone earlier this week with marks around his neck.
The girl was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm to Anthony Hinchliffe and with attempting to pervert the course of justice in the case in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in northern England, police said.
She is scheduled to appear at Dewsbury Youth Court on June 10.
She was one of two girls and three boys aged between 11 and 12 arrested this week over Tuesday's incident. The four others were freed yesterday, while she was re-arrested and kept in custody.
Detectives said they were no longer looking for anyone else in the case.
A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire police said the girl had been placed in the care of a youth offending team.
Police refuse to confirm if Anthony, on a half-term school break, sustained his injuries in an attempted hanging.
The boy was taken to hospital after being discovered in woodland near Dewsbury in a distressed state with bruising to his body.
He was released on Wednesday afternoon and then interviewed by police.
Detectives are investigating claims the attack was inspired by a TV screening of Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.
The movie, starring Kevin Costner, includes a sequence in which a boy narrowly escapes being strung up from a tree. There are a number of other hanging scenes.
It was shown on BBC1 on Bank Holiday Monday, just 24 hours before Anthony was lured into woods and apparently had a noose tied around his neck.
Six years ago, an eight-year-old boy in New Zealand hanged himself after watching the same film in what his parents believe was an attempt to copy the film.
West Yorkshire police confirmed they were aware of the theory.
There was also concern that, by showing the film at 5.45pm, the BBC flouted rules stating films including hanging should not be screened before 9pm.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/com...55E663,00.html
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