The beating attack in Markdorf has triggered a wave of outrage. Three young people brutally beat their 14-year-old classmate Mark (name changed) and filmed the act. In an interview with FOCUS online, the victim’s mother now explains how the attack came about, what is known about the perpetrators and why her son still has to be afraid.
FOCUS online: Mrs. S., on June 6th your son was beaten up by several youths in Markdorf. How did you find out about the crime?
I got a distraught call from my son and of course drove to him immediately. The police were already there, luckily he had the presence of mind to call them. The perpetrators then took off. My son was extremely upset.
The crime was filmed by the teenagers. How did you feel when you saw the video for the first time?
My son sent me the video the evening of the incident. He said to me: “Mom, don’t get too upset, don’t cry.” But of course I cried. When a mother sees something like that, it breaks her heart. I saw how my son endured the blows as if he were paralyzed. He couldn’t defend himself. Of course, you feel an incredible amount of anger in your stomach.
How did the crime even come about?
The perpetrators are classmates of my son. On that day, my son had already finished school after the fifth period and was on his way to my parents’ house. The boys in question were supposed to have been at school longer, but they skipped the sixth period to go after him. So the crime was definitely planned.
What reason did the perpetrators have to attack their son?
Clearly: none. In the video you can hear one of the boys saying that my son called his grandfather a son of a bitch. My son would never do that. He has a good relationship with his grandparents. And even if he did, that doesn’t justify such a terrible act of violence. He had an argument with one of the other boys two years ago, but that was settled long ago.
I think these guys just look for some trivial reason to attack. It’s fashionable at the moment, they film the act and feel cool, strong and superior.
What else do you know about the perpetrators?
The attack on my son is by no means an isolated incident. This group is known in the school for its violent excesses, one of the boys even has a criminal record. Two of them were in the same class as my son until the seventh grade. He then moved to the middle school branch, these boys to the lower secondary school branch. There they joined forces and have been bullying and threatening other students ever since. A week after the attack, for example, one of this group hit a girl again. You have to wonder why the school doesn’t intervene.
The school has not taken any action yet?
Not at first. All I ever heard was: “It didn’t happen at school.” I thought that was ridiculous. Firstly, my son was still on his way home from school and secondly, the perpetrators should have still been at school. It was only after the case was reported to the press that the three perpetrators who had struck were expelled from school. However, only for a few weeks; one of them was even allowed back to school after three days!
So the perpetrators are still at the school?
Exactly. Just yesterday my son returned to his class briefly for a test. Then I got a call from him: “Mom, the boys are back!” Three of them were hanging around the school grounds and threatened him again: “It serves you right, if you don’t pay attention you’ll soon get another punch in the face.” I can’t understand at all why this group isn’t expelled from the school completely.
How is your son dealing with the situation?
He is frightened and traumatized and is of course very afraid to enter the school building again. After yesterday’s experience, he collapsed at home. At 14, young people are generally at a difficult age, with puberty, school stress and sometimes arguments with their parents. When such extreme bullying is added to the mix, it is simply too much. I will now take him to a child psychologist.
What consequences do you demand for the perpetrators?
I’m already in contact with a lawyer. I’m going to sue for damages and get these people banned from coming near my son at school. But of course I’m still hoping for a complete expulsion from school. Because I’m sure these boys will keep going. They haven’t reflected on their actions at all. There’s still a long way to go before they’ve learned anything.
