Werribee DVD incident

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The 2006 Werribee DVD incident occurred in the Australian town of Werribee (a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria), when a group of teenage boys, who collectively called themselves the "Teenage Kings of Werribee", [1] filmed themselves committing various criminal acts, including the sexual assault of a teenage girl with a developmental disability. They then produced a DVD of their actions, which they sold for $5 a copy, and posted their footage to YouTube under the name "Cunt: the Movie". [2] [3] The DVD caused widespread controversy after excerpts were broadcast by television current affairs program Today Tonight on 23 October 2006, and led to a police investigation about the content.

Contents

Background

Believed to have been filmed in June 2006, the DVD shows twelve boys – all aged under 18 – making chlorine bombs, harassing a homeless man, throwing eggs at taxi drivers, and participating in fights at local parties; it also shows media coverage of incidents that they claim to have been involved in. [1] The footage depicts the group sexually assaulting and humiliating a 17-year-old girl, who has a condition described by The Age as a "mild development delay". [1] Several of the boys were filmed urinating on the girl, setting her hair on fire, forcing her to participate in sexual activity, and also throwing items of her clothing into the Werribee River, where the incident took place. During this time, one boy approaches the camera and states, "What the fuck, she's the ugliest thing I've even seen." [1] The girl had previously communicated with two of the boys using MSN Messenger, and had arranged to meet them at a Werribee shopping centre; when she arrived at Werribee Station, the group of twelve walked with her to the Werribee River.

It is alleged that the group posted segments of the DVD on YouTube during 2006, with a video entitled Pimp My Wife viewed over 2500 times. [1] On 25 October, the video was removed from the website "due to terms of use violation." [4]

On 29 October rumours emerged of a sequel, titled CTM2, which apparently depicts some of the youths involved in the first DVD breaking into houses, smashing property, and defecating into kettles and cups. [5]

Police response

Detective Inspector Simon Clemence of Victoria Police's sexual crimes unit stated that the incident was being investigated: "At this stage I think it would be fair to say it is a rape and some indecent assaults as well. 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." [6]

Of the DVD itself, he said: "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." [6]

The parents of three boys allegedly involved approached police, asking that their sons be formally questioned as part of the investigation. The move followed a police raid on the home of one of the group's members. [7]

On 7 March 2007, eight youths were charged [8] over the DVD and appeared in the Melbourne Children's Court on 27 April 2007 on charges of assault, manufacturing child pornography and procuring sexual penetration by intimidation.

Eight of the youths pleaded guilty and were required to participate in a sexual offenders program. [9] The remaining four denied the charges.

On 5 November 2007, eight of the boys involved (aged between 15 and 17 at the time of offending) were ordered to participate in a rehabilitation program for male adolescents about positive sexuality. Seven had convictions recorded against them. Six were placed on youth supervision orders for between 12 and 18 months and two on probation for 12 months. [10]

Reactions

Recent developments

On 13 April 2009 it emerged that one of the boys had put a rap video up on his personal website gloating about the fact that he was not jailed and is unrepentant of his crimes. The lyrics include: "I’m still untouched. When her hair got flamed. They didn’t show her nude, when you look on YouTube". [18]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Miletic, Daniella (25 October 2006). "Outcry over teenage girl's assault recorded on DVD". The Age . Melbourne: Fairfax. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2006.
  2. ↑ Robinson, Natasha (25 October 2006). "Assault DVD suspects may all face charges". Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 9 November 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2006.
  3. ↑ "What's More Important: Rehabilitation Or Retribution?". Jezebel. 9 November 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  4. ↑ Ziffer, Daniel (26 October 2006). "YouTube yanks assault DVD". The Age . Melbourne: Fairfax. Retrieved 26 October 2006.
  5. ↑ Crawford, Carly (29 October 2006). "DVD gang 'made break-in rampage sequel'". Herald Sun. News Limited. Retrieved 29 October 2006.
  6. 1 2 Miletic, Daniella (25 October 2006). "Rape probe over sex attack DVD". The Age . Melbourne: Fairfax. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2006.
  7. ↑ AAP (2006). Parents come forward in DVD abuse case.
  8. ↑ "Eight charged over Werribee DVD". News Limited. 8 March 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2007.
  9. ↑ Shtargot, Sasha (27 July 2007). "Werribee DVD youths plead guilty, avoid jail". The Age . Melbourne: Fairfax. Retrieved 28 July 2007.
  10. ↑ "Teens avoid jail over sex assault". Brisbane Times. Fairfax. 5 November 2007. Archived from the original on 5 November 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  11. ↑ AAP (25 October 2006). "DVD mob 'like Nazi camp guards'". The Age . Fairfax. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2006.
  12. ↑ Rennie, Reko (25 October 2006). "Coonan warns of internet's underbelly". The Age . Melbourne: Fairfax. Retrieved 25 October 2006.
  13. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald (2006). Jackass star condemns DVD. Retrieved 25 October 2006.
  14. ↑ Houlihan, Liam; Metlikovec, Jane (26 October 2006). "Public outrage met by boasts, laughter". Herald Sun. News Limited. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  15. 1 2 AAP (26 October 2006). "Twentyman calls for 'gang' summit". Age. Fairfax. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  16. ↑ AAP (2006). DVD thugs 'shouldn't be identified'. Retrieved 26 October 2006.
  17. 1 2 AAP (2006). DVD school in despair. Retrieved 27 October 2006.
  18. ↑ Dowsley, Anthony; Healey, Kelvin (13 April 2009). "Werribee sex DVD ringleader's hate-filled rap song on web". Herald Sun . News Limited. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
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