this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2024
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Teenager detained for 12 years minimum for attempted murder at private Blundell’s school in Devon

A teenager who attacked two sleeping students and a teacher with hammers at a private school in Devon has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 12 years after being found guilty of attempted murder.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was armed with three claw hammers and waited for the two boys to be asleep before attacking them at Blundell’s school in Tiverton, Exeter crown court heard.

He was wearing just his boxer shorts and used weapons he had collected to prepare for a “zombie apocalypse”, the court was told.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

@MicroWave
"sentenced to life" says the title. Then they say "12 years minimum". Isn't this odd? I'm not familiar with Justice rules in UK, but the second sentence seems contradicting the title...

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago

A life sentence in the UK is distinct from a whole life order. Usually 25-30 years. The 12 year minimum is the length of time before he would be entitled to parole.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Why is everyone guessing what happened? Is there no way to get the court documents in the UK? I can request all documents related to a case for free here in Sweden.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

Not in this case as he is a minor so the records aren’t public.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Bludgeon School, terrible name choice

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

Are you just reading what you want to read?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

...in prison? Or just sentenced to having to exist.

Bias in journalism amirite

[–] [email protected] 34 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Weird kid in a private boarding school, withdrawn, perhaps autistic mostly online.

Reading between the lines there's a pretty good chance that the other kids were mercilessly picking on him.

The zombie invasion line might well have been an attempt to get out of premeditation that he didn't go and grab the hammers to kill them.

He's still squarely in the wrong and definitely needs to be pulled out of society for a very long time and get psychologic help, But I strongly suspect there are some things at play here that aren't being reported on.

Given I haven't met a lot of psychopaths, But I have met plenty of children who have been bullied until they snapped.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

A neurodivergent at a private school would never stand a chance.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

I agree, and the school should have been ready for that. There is no way they didn't know this was going on.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago

Was his name Maxwell?

[–] [email protected] 36 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

British Private Schools:

Fagging was a traditional practice in British public schools and also at many other boarding schools, whereby younger pupils were required to act as personal servants to the eldest boys.[1][2][3] Although probably originating earlier, the first accounts of fagging appeared in the late 17th century.[4]: 23  Fagging sometimes involved physical abuse[4]: 23–25  and/or sexual abuse.[5] Although lessening in severity over the centuries, the practice continued in some institutions until the end of the 20th century.[4]: 23–25 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

[–] [email protected] 19 points 3 weeks ago

Is no one else going to mention the possibility that this kid was severely bullied and abused? I'm not trying to suggest any justification or excuse for attacking sleeping people with hammers, but it is such abnormal behavior that it seems at least possible to me that this kid was driven to extreme violence out of desperation.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

claimed he was sleepwalking.

This is actually a thing so I wonder how they disproved it

[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 weeks ago

Probably by noticing that he got the hammers ahead of time

[–] [email protected] 15 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This article really requires a "white boy" before all the brits start burning hotels with refugees again

[–] [email protected] 28 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It's a private school, so safe to assume there is a 0% refugee student body.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

given his choice of weapon, i'm surprised he didn't "stop!".

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

I simply can't touch this.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

Wearing boxer shorts?

Where were his Thomas The Tank Engine pyjamas?!

Seriously though; while the boys at state school were a lot harder, if a posh kid finally lost it it was always something extremely psychotic like this.

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