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Original poster

Poor boy in the news

63 replies

CuttedUpPear · 01/03/2012 23:29

I feel so shocked and saddened by the news today about the poor teenage boy in London who was killed by the Congolese people who thought he was a witch.

The announcement on the radio was horrific. I actually cried (which was a bit inconvenient as I was up as tree at the time (for work)).

I won't go into the description but it was the stuff of horror films, worse.
I'm finding this too terrible and have rushed to turn off the radio every news bulletin today, especially when my DS got home from school.

What a tragic thing to happen, these people, where are their minds?

OP posts:
headfairy · 01/03/2012 23:32

I've been working on this story all day. The details are much grimmer than can be relayed on the news too.

The fact that it was his sister and her boyfriend who killed him is terrible. And his parents did nothing, even when he begged for them to come and collect him as he thought his "uncle" was going to kill him :(

TheSinglePringle · 01/03/2012 23:36

I have just read this on the internet. The poor lad and his sisters who had to watch and then clean up after he was killed?!

Original poster
CuttedUpPear · 01/03/2012 23:36

Oh poor you, I couldn't listen to any more details than I had to hear before turning off.
No not poor you, poor him, sorry. This is really troubling.

OP posts:
headfairy · 01/03/2012 23:37

It's shocking that people can have a belief that leads them to do such savage things.

Original poster
CuttedUpPear · 01/03/2012 23:38

I didn't really create this thread so that people could go into grisly detail, so please don't. It's not respectful.
I just wanted to reach out and mention it as I'm feeling that I'll get nightmares otherwise. And I am nothing to do with the situation, there must be many people close to it who are troubled and suffering.

OP posts:
imogengladheart · 01/03/2012 23:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

headfairy · 02/03/2012 11:10

the judge told the jury that as they'd had to sit through such distressing evidence they would never be called for jury service again, he would take their names off the list of people available to do it. It's very rare for a judge to do that, shows just how awful the evidence was.

EdithWeston · 02/03/2012 11:56

I thought the amount of detail they had on the pre-watershed 6 O'Clock News was wrong. This is a deeply shocking story, but much of the detail should have been left for the later bulletins.

Finding out from this thread that there was far more that has not been reported is chilling.

headfairy · 02/03/2012 12:16

Edith... did you feel it was too strong? There was much discussion about what details to keep in and what to keep out. I do think it's important to report that this was not ordinary murder (I do realise that sounds chilling, like there's ever an ordinary murder) the level of violence made it much much worse. I don't think the details that were given out were worse than anything that was reported in the Peter Connolly case.

Sentencing today, I hope they get a whole life tariff. This murder was motivated by a religious belief I think this pair will hold for life. I think they will always be a risk to society.

DottyDot · 02/03/2012 12:21

This story's really got to me too - and I'm don't normally let stuff on the news bother me - but the fact that he was begging to die in the end really really got me - I was in tears walking in to work this morning as I'd just read about it in the morning paper and I keep thinking about it. Saw this thread and am hoping that by posting here I can get some of it out iyswim. Just horrible Sad.

EdithWeston · 02/03/2012 13:49

headfairy - yes, for 6pm. I'm not a terribly reliable commentator on this one as DD (yr3) was at large and I leapt onto the off-switch. I thought it was too strong because it showed the bath (just before bath time), detailed injuries and mentioned witchcraft. It was too graphic, and also the wrong mix of elements IYSWIM.

Reporting on Peter Connolley was different - no images of the place, not even of him (as it was barred until after the second trial) and no element of witchcraft.

BTW, just to be clear, I have no objection to graphic reporting on the 10 O'Clock news.

LittenTree · 02/03/2012 14:17

To me it points to another uncomfortable fact: That our failure as a society to address issues of 'culture' for fear of being labelled 'racist' continues to allow such atrocities to occur in the West.

Quote from 'The Sowetan':

?It is hard to believe in this day and age anyone can believe someone was practising witchcraft.? Dr. Richard Hoskins, an expert witness who has studied kindoki (belief in witchcraft) for 25 years, told the trial that belief in it is ?extremely widespread? among Congolese people, including those in Britain.

?Even here in London and amongst educated people, I?ve met lots and spoken with lots of people who believe in kindoki and think it has power,? he said...."

headfairy · 02/03/2012 14:27

Litten I think in this case it was different because Kristy was a French national on holiday. He had only been here a few days, and the authorities weren't aware of his presence or the danger he was in (apart from the border authorities that is, he entered legally)

That said, there are many churches in the UK that practice exorcisms from Kindoki "possessions".

Edith I can see how that might cause upset. TBH I never have the news on when the kids are around, mostly because they won't let me, but partly because I think so much of it isn't really suitable for toddlers. I do see far more horrific images than the average person so perhaps I'm hardened to it, but I still wouldn't really watch it with the kids around.

EdithWeston · 02/03/2012 14:49

The 6pm slot is 3 hours before the watershed, and so should be suitable for children. I don't mean turn the News into NewsRound.: there s plenty of middle ground.

I mean respect the watershed or abolish it.

LittenTree · 02/03/2012 14:59

Yes, headfairy - 'That said'....

It's a real and present danger to many immigrant young people, like the 'holiday' to the Horn of Africa for the female circumcision; the trip to Pakistan to marry off the 15 year old DD.

Frontpaw · 02/03/2012 15:05

I hope they get life. They are a danger. Religious reasons, my foot. Just an excuse for truly depraved behaviour. If there was such a thing as witchcraft, why would a witch allow themselves to be trapped or harmed? Its lilke the old witch trials here. Stupid stupid people.

Synyster · 02/03/2012 15:24

I was beyond shocked by this, that his own sister could have been party to it is horrific.
poor poor boy.

MrsBeakman · 02/03/2012 15:51

It said on Radio 4 that the boy's father in Paris tried to get the money together for the flight over to the UK, but by the time he managed to do so the boy was already dead. :( This story reminded me of that awful Victoria Climbie case about 12 years ago where she was tortured because it was thought she was possessed. I did feel very angry when i saw Victoria's parents on TV complaining that the British system had failed Victoria. I felt that it was the parents who had failed her by sending her to the UK to stay with someone they clearly didn't know at all and then just leaving her to her fate. :(

alemci · 02/03/2012 16:34

good point Mrs Beakman. i share your view about Victoria. How about blaming the aunt. they had a phone in about this on BBC London today. very upsetting in this day and age.

Synyster · 02/03/2012 17:01

maybe by blaming the Aunt , they then have take some blame themselves. which must be awful, where as blaming a government, is different

headfairy · 02/03/2012 17:13

I think Kristy called his father on Christmas eve, his parents had a flight booked for Boxing Day, but obviously that was too late as Kristy died on Christmas day. The father didn't think he should call the police though, as he didn't think Kristy sounded in distress (that's a direct quote)

scottishmummy · 02/03/2012 17:32

so upsetting to be brutalised by family
the sheer terror and pain that youngster endured is unimaginable
I do hope people do talk,shed a tear and really think about this

you know there is all the sepia picture on thecover misery lit, that fills shelves and land fill and somehow it diminishes and reduces the content to titles like no daddy... stolen....no one knows... etc

this dreadful news story just makes me want to scoop my weans up and hold them tight

alemci · 02/03/2012 17:39

I suppose so Synyster. They are trying to deflect the issue from themselves. They probably rue the day they sent her to England.

rubyslippers · 02/03/2012 17:42

This has haunted me

I watched a report on Sky news last night about Kindoki and it showed witch doctors supposedly pulling bullets an string out ot people (obv a trick) and rubbing salt over people

It was very distressing but the practise appears very wide spread

Synyster · 02/03/2012 17:46

alemci that is what I meant, you put it better