DS accused of assault

I’d lay odds that the victim definitely knows who attacked him, but is probably too terrified of the repercussions if he tells. Poor kid.

My DS was attacked and bullied by some kids at school when he was 14. He wouldn’t tell me or his teachers who any of the perpetrators were until about a year later when I mentioned inviting an old friend and her son over for tea during the school holidays and DS went ballistic. Turns out her little shit was the gang leader. Luckily, after I spoke to my friend and told her what her son had done, she was appalled and read him the riot act and he later apologised to DS. Thankfully, DS was left alone by the bullies after that.

Your son is clearly involved in some way, even if it’s just as a bystander egging on the others. You have to come down very hard if there’s any hope of redemption, otherwise he’s going to carry on with his thuggish ways and get into even more serious trouble in the future.

I agree with others that moving him to another school might be a good option to separate him from the other gang members.

are you always that dramatic?

maybe he genuinely doesn't know
maybe he's actually scared of telling the truth - rightly or wrongly

The whole thing needs a lot of explaining from the OP's son before deciding on anything else.

Sounds like he might need a psychologist or professional input to tease this out. Sounds horrendous and I hope that the child who was attacked is okay. I imagine a weapon was used instead of fists? If not it’ll be as simple as checking him and his knuckles for bruising etc but it sounds like there is a deeper issue that needs addressing regardless

Attacked from behind as he tried to run away from a gang of bullies? Hit over the head? Many reasons why he may not be sure.

Sadly young men fight. If your son was sullen and shifty, clearly he was fully involved. I would sit him down and explain calmly what may well happen 're the police/criminal conviction, etc.

I would explain the Billy the Kid problem he might just have caused himself...that is getting a reputation as a 'hard man' will lead to others who want that rep to come looking for him.

Someone asked how the other kid didn't know who attacked him, he could have been hit from behind and covered up or does know and is scared to say as it may lead to.another attack.

The youth who attacked our 12 year old son a few years ago (homophobic attack), Was expelled from school and his family moved out of the area. He now has a criminal record.
Neither he, nor his family (parents a vicar and a teacher) ever apologised.
So a heartfelt apology (if he is found guilty) would be a start.

DS admits he was there but denied it was him that assaulted the boy and named another boy.

I'd be having a very long conversation to know details. Even if he wasn't there, WHY was the other boy being assaulted? Why did the witness let it happen, why didn't they grab an adult?

"serious assault" means nothing, I would first ask for the actual story.

So if he didn't take part he obviously knows who did.
Id calmly talk to him and ask him for complete honesty.

"But I could imagine him getting carried away in the moment".

Oh Lord, you think he was involved?

Best thing you can do is calmly go along with the investigation, don't try to cover for him. At his age he needs to know that actions have consequences. Be guided by the police.

It doesn’t matter if he wasn’t the one who assaulted him - if he was there and it’s at the level of a criminal conviction then he can be arrested under joint enterprise.

he might not have done it, but if he didn’t stop it then legally it amounts to the same thing.

I would support him by a) trying to find another school b) trying to explain what his life will look like with a serious criminal conviction (no more trips to America for you son, no jobs involving a DSB check etc etc)

The victim isn't sure who attacked him.

Well, the first thing that has to be ascertained is whether or not your DS did attack him. Because if he didn't this is all over. Why doesn't the victim know who did it? Thats very odd. You need to get to the bottom of that first.