Rape squad rounds up DVD gang

Rape squad rounds up DVD gang

Below is a still image from the DVD of one of the boys setting the victims hair on fire.

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

Several youths have been questioned by police tonight over a homemade DVD showing a teenage girl being sexually abused and degraded by up to a dozen boys.

The DVD had been circulating among high school children in Melbourne's west and on the internet and was being sold for $5.

Police warn anyone viewing or downloading the film risks child pornography charges.

Victoria Police Senior Constable Michael Henry said charges were yet to be laid over the film, which includes graphic footage of a young woman being sexually abused and her hair set alight.

"Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad have tonight spoken to several of the youths over the Werribee DVD investigation," Snr Const Henry said.

He said police would speak to other youths thought involved in filming the incident - which occurred in June at Werribee - "over the next few days".

"No one has been charged at present," Snr Const Henry said.

"And any decision in relation to charges will be made once all evidence has been assessed and all people involved have been spoken to."

Tonight's interviews came after several groups of parents of the boys came forward to hand their sons in to police.

Police have also described their investigation into the shocking DVD, which was sold in schools west of Melbourne, as "in its early stages".

They have again appealed for anyone with information on its production to make contact.

Police interviewing the group of youths said earlier today it had become a rape investigation.

Detective Inspector Simon Clemence from the Sex Crimes Squad
said up to 12 boys could be charged.

He said two boys were being investigated in relation to the assault of the girl but had yet to be interviewed. The rape offence involved oral sex, he said.

"At this stage I think it would be fair to say it is a rape and some indecent assaults as well,'' he said.

"We have taken a statement from the girl and she states quite categorically that she was not a willing participant on what occurred on that particular occasion and that confirms the basis of the offence.

"At this stage the primary offence is the sexual offence and that's a serious sexual assault we are investigating.''

He said some of the 12 youths had been identified and he was confident all the perpetrators would be found and interviewed by this afternoon.

"There is still a few yet to be identified and we are asking the public, and we know the material has been circulated at a couple of the schools, if any of the people at those schools know who the people are then they should let us know,'' he said.

The DVD, shot in June, includes footage of the men urinating on the girl, setting her hair alight three times and throwing her top and jacket into the river.

At least two students have been expelled, and another three suspended from schools in the district, as parents, peers and police grapple with what has happened.

Detective Clemence said of the DVD: "It is quite disturbing, very disturbing actually.

"I can tell you I have seen the video and there is no humour in it. The girl is the victim of a serious crime, she's very traumatised, the parents are very traumatised, and anyone who thinks this is a bit of a joke perhaps must have a good look at themselves.

"I would encourage anyone who gets a hold of this material, anyone who sees this material to report it to us and we will do anything in our power to stop it.''

He said camera operators and distributors as well as those participating in the film could face charges.

Child psychologist Dr John Cheetham likened the mob behaviour to the degradation of Jews in World War II.

"It's the sort of behaviour you would expect in a prison camp. It's something like a flashback to the Second World War and the way the Jews were treated," Dr Cheetham told the Nine Network.

Those involved in the attack were likely to be angry, resentful poor achievers who had not developed a set of values.

"Somewhere along the line they have not learned to have a social conscience and to respect the dignity of human beings, he said.

The victim of the sex attack faced a long, hard road to recovery, Dr Cheetham said.

"The shock, the horror, the sense of degradation, would be just horrific and we know from the history of people that have had this sort of stuff imposed on them, is that we do get long-term trauma," he said.

"We get sleeplessness, we get nightmares, we get an unwillingness to socialise, we get an unwillingness to go out of the house.

"Then you have all the emotions of having been violated and you would just feel absolutely horrific." from The Sydeny Morning Herald

mamet said:
Jesus fucking Christ.

mamet said:
Jesus fucking Christ.

MisterGone said:
wow
I hope those sick little fucks find out exactly how much it sucks to be treated like that.

Tonight's interviews came after several groups of parents of the boys came forward to hand their sons in to police.

mingol said:

This, at least, is a positive sign.

Morgan said:
I hate people.

traceelement said:

This come after some of the parents involved when confronted by a current affairs show said their kids "were only having some fun".

I am guessing in context they still didn't know the full contents of the DVD and what had occurred and may have just been refering to the taxi driver "pranks".

well I hope that is the situation at least ...

BellJar said:

took the words right outta my mouth

kimberleyfantasy said:

Me too.

Ciddy said:
That's horrible. But why sell it?