The kids' rape case

[Sam Slater]

What does everyone think of these two lads (both 10 at the time) being convicted of attempted rape (and accused and tried for actual rape)?

Apparently they'd all been 'experimenting' with a young girl of 8. Playing 'doctors and nurses' as it were. Is it right to put these 3 kids under such an ordeal as this when quite clearly any sexual contact at such an age is more about being naughty, experimental and probably very curious? They were committing sexual acts, sure, but I doubt their motives were sexual lust, or power, like we'd see in adults.

The stigma surrounding criminal acts of a sexual nature is higher than many other crimes (paedophilia aside) and I think such a conviction of 'attempted rape' is going to live on well into their adult lives. It will never go away. We all might be wary of an armed robber who'd killed someone, after they were released while down the pub, but we'd all be much more uncomfortable befriending someone who'd done time for attempted rape. Like I said, the stigma will never go away.

Given all this, it's got to be wrong to convict kids so young when it comes to crimes of a sexual nature. Were they naughty? Sure; should they have been reprimanded some other way to explain why it's naughty (via school or parenting)? You bet; criminalising them inside a court is plain wrong and could destroy all their lives unnecessarily. It's plain stupid and things need to change.

[randyandy]

I'd agree with you Sam but kids unfortunately really are growing up so fast and as outsiders we will never know just how active the lads were towards sex.

I went to pick my Mum from shopping the other week and the place I was meeting her has a statue in front of it.

My mum turned up late and while I was waiting a lad of around the same age, if not younger, came up and pretended to give it a blow job.

The sad thing was that he was the eldest of a bunch of kids, who all found it amusing but the worse thing, by far, was that the lad was with his 'parent's' who didn't bat an eyelid, other than to tell him to get a move on (& yes they did watch him going down on it).

Knowledge varies, the lad knew very well what he was doing and so did the other members of his family which is why on things like this it has to be more on does the individual merit a court case (which we will never know) and just because they are a child, while taken into consideration, should not mean they automatically qualify for a more 'special treatment' than the ones already in place.

[Deano!]

I think these situations arise when the 'witch-hunt' mentality takes over from reasonable consideration. It wouldn't be hard to find people who'd happily see the 10 year old boys hanged for being 'kiddie-fiddlers' - because they're so concerned with children's welfare!

But can you imagine even trying to discuss this subject in a public forum? Shouting and stabbing the air with one's finger have taken over from real debate these days.

[justincyder]

I part agree but the sad fact is many many children of that age are far older than their years and know full well what they're doing ie Jamie Bulger killers.

Obviously the vast majority of children would never behave in this way yet an alarming increase of those that do is nonetheless evident.

Children learn from their peers and by what they are exposde to, that is the issue that needs to be addressed, whether it be poor quality parenting, exposure to media in various forms etc.

In Northern Ireland children as young as 4 are out on the streets thowing stones/bricks at the emergency services, accepted behaviour by people in their immediate area who have no interest in how they bring up their children.

You can't ignore acts such as described in your original post and I'm afraid I would say that they do need to be dealt with and it was right to convict them albeit I would question some of the procedures involved. If they were 'just' playing doctors and nurses howcome we aren't facing cases such as this across the country every day with kids trying to have sex with each other willy nilly.

Kids that age and younger DO know what is right and what is wrong if they have been brought up accordingly, what they don't have is an understanding of the seriousness of their actions or the responsibilites attached to them nor a true understanding of the consequences.

Again its a deeper issue that go's back to upbringing both in the immediate term ie by parents and within the social climate that child is raised in.