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Friend films matric pupil's assault
19/07/2006 08:02 - (SA)
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| Ruan Springorum lies in his hospital bed at Peglerae Hospital after the assault. (Linda de Beer, Beeld) |
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Linda de Beer, Beeld
Rustenburg - A Rustenburg High School matric pupil has three cranial fractures and serious injuries to his left eye after being mercilessly assaulted by a fellow student in the school's toilets on Monday.
A cellphone video taken by a friend showed how Ruan Springorum, 17, was repeatedly beaten while a group of pupils watched, laughing, without intervening.
Ruan was admitted to Peglerae Hospital due to the seriousness of his injuries after being examined by a doctor. Among other injuries, brain fluid was leaking into his sinus cavities. His eye was still swollen shut on Tuesday.
Doctors planned to operate on Friday to determine the extent of the damage, said Fred Springorum, Ruan's father.
An assault charge was laid with police on Tuesday afternoon. A civil claim might also follow.
The assault took place during break on Monday after the alleged attacker apparently accused Ruan of making a remark about his (the assailant) girlfriend.
Throughout the assault Ruan kept denying that he'd said anything about the girl.
A group of boys, allegedly friends of the assailant, blocked the entrance to the toilets. Ruan had nowhere to go. Beside the one friend of Ruan's who took the video, his friends were outside.
According to the testimony of a witness, which was in Beeld's possession, the pupil "continued to beat Ruan and dragged him around on the floor like someone possessed".
Another witness said "Ruan didn't hit back and didn't even try to defend himself, while the alleged assailant kept shaking and beating him".
Principal Johan Smit said on Tuesday that this was a tragic, isolated incident. He said the incident was being investigated, and the necessary disciplinary steps would be taken against the pupil(s) involved. So far nobody has been suspended.
Springorum said he didn't want to make life difficult for his child at school by exposure to the media. However, he would like the culprit to be punished.
- Beeld
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