Deze keer niet over Irak

[Cees Binkhorst]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

Freak news today:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,6236790%255E1702,00.html
'Max damage' from crossbow

April 04, 2003
A JILTED schoolboy shot an ex-girlfriend at a NSW school with a crossbow hunting arrow sharpened to cause "maximum damage", a court has
heard.

The arrow went straight through the upper body of 16-year-old Tamara Sharp before hitting Courtney Bennett, also 16, pinning both her legs
together.

Both girls today remained in a stable condition in Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital.

The accused boy appeared in court today charged with attempted murder, two counts of malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily
harm, possession of a prohibited weapon and throwing an explosive.

Police prosecutor Tony McInnes today Worimi Children's Court the 16-year-old boy carried out yesterday's attack at the high school near Port
Stephens after the break-up of a brief relationship.

The boy's solicitor Thomas Morgan told the court that because the incident "was an affair of the heart", his client would have no motivation to
repeat his actions.

Describing the attack at the Tomaree Education Centre in Salamander Bay as "planned and calculated", Senior Sergeant McInnes said the boy paid
$1,084 for a crossbow and arrows.

It was alleged the weapon was purchased from interstate and included one sharpened hunting arrow "designed to do the maximum damage".

The crossbow had been cloaked with clothing and placed in a large suitcase with a fishing rod "to make it seem less suspicious", Sgt McInnes said.

The student arrived at school about 8am (AEST) and crossed a sporting field to get to Tamara, who was sitting with friends in the playground.

"The victim ignored him and walked around the corner and the young person followed," Sgt McInnes said.

He then allegedly drew his already-loaded weapon and shot Tamara from just two-and-a-half metres away.

The arrow hit her in the back with such force it shot through her chest and into Courtney's thigh, pinning both her legs together.

The court was told that as Tamara moved away, the boy lit a home-made molotov cocktail and threw it at her.

It did not explode but showered her with fuel.

"Seeing that it did not go as expected he produced the second one and was intending to light it when he was tackled by the other students," Sgt
McInnes said.

Police also alleged the boy intended to use a deodorant as a flamethrower to keep people away from him.

Today the boy, dressed in casual, tidy clothes and with his parents nearby, remained calm as he politely agreed to undergo forensic testing.

Applying for bail, Mr Morgan said his client was a reasonably good student who had come from a loving and solid family and had no criminal
history.

However, Magistrate Jane Motley refused the bail application, saying she held concerns for the safety of witnesses and for the boy's state of
mind.

She ordered the teenager undergo a psychiatric assessment and remanded him in custody to reappear on April 28.

Meanwhile the girls' families today praised the actions of students who took control of the situation and comforted their daughters.

"It was amazing to see an act of such maturity coming from these teenagers," a Bennett family spokesperson said in a statement.

Tamara's father Brian Sharp said his daughter was grateful to everyone who helped save her life.

"She is very grateful to the school students, paramedics, ambulance, hospital chaplains and hospital staff who helped save her life and have
supported us during this difficult time," Mr Sharp said.

Groet,

Cees Binkhorst - cees at binkhorst.xs4all.nl

Een paar recente uitspraken:
'Als de VN relevant willen zijn, moeten ze precies doen wat ik zeg.'
'Ik weet dat ik tegen de wensen van de Security Council en de tekst
van het VN-verdrag in ga, maar ik doe het wel om een VN-resolutie
uit te voeren.'
Een oude uitspraak van Thomas Paine uit 1795 "Every man must
finally  see the necessity of  protecting the rights of others as the
most effectual security for his own"

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