Vorpal wrote:I, for one, think that we should let the police investigate and not condemn a *child* for what may be no more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
So what if he was apparently doing something illegal? Would anyone condemn him if the attack has accurred when he was riding a bike on the pavement? I've seen plenty of young people illegally riding motorcycles on the road, on bridleways, and other places they don't belong in rural areas. Would they be similarly condemned, if attacked in the same way?
As for the gun gesture, lots of kids who aren't in gangs do that. And he was said to be an aspiring boxer; maybe he just wanted to be perceived as a 'tough'.
Lastly, there are perfectly legitimate reasons for a kid that age to be out doing things. Mini V does art and music after school on Thursdays, and takes the bus home afterwards. She usually gets home around 9:00 pm, but if she helps tidy up afterward, or the buses are delayed, she has come home as late as 9:30. She's 12. Would it be her fault if she were the victim of crime?
Would anyone's opinion be different, if the media only published pictures of him in a school uniform and a bland background? If he were white? or came from a rural village?
The world will never know what this child could have contributed. That's a tragedy.
RIP Jayden Moody.
Your sentiments are all very well and good but you(and others) seem to be omitting two key facts.
1.The Police stated it was a targetted attack,not random,not wrong place wrong time but targetted
2.The Police are also treating it as gang related.
For now I'm erring towards believing what the Police are saying.
. [Having been a juror]