Aims - no I was not blaming you specifically. Of course my son never did anything as bad as the boys mentioned in the original post, thank God! he was never violent.
I just wanted to point out that, it is not always bad parenting that turns children into monsters. I begged people to tell me were i was going wrong. Someone has said that the parents should be helped , and I agree, Especially if those parents want and need the help. I know there are a lot of parents who do not care, but that is not always the case.
but the help was not available to us when we needed it.
I hope that these boys wherever they are sent, are given the help they need. I hope they will get a shock like my son did. I hope they are appalled at the consequences of their actions. If not then I am afraid there is no hope for them.
The family of the man who died, have said that they are happy (not the right word!) with the sentences, given that they are children. Bless them, they have my heartfelt sympathy.