Charged boy alone in class

By BRIDGET CARTER and STUART DYE


A schoolboy charged over a brutal attack that put a teenager in hospital is in isolation and under constant monitoring - in his classroom.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been released on bail after an assault on Peau Peleti, who remains in hospital.

The youth appeared in court on a charge of assault and is due back in court this month.

But in the meantime he has been allowed back to his school as the attack did not happen there.

The principal of the Auckland college, who the Weekend Herald is not naming to avoid identifying the youth, said the junior student was doing his schoolwork in isolation and under supervision - "not for his own safety but just to make him concentrate on his studies".

A balance had to be reached between the needs of the child, the college and safety, the principal said.

"He also has a right to an education."

The principal said the assault did not take place at school.

"Obviously there has been an assessment made - if they believed he posed major safety issues for society they would not have released him."

The college had made its own assessment, and the matter still had to be dealt with by the legal system.

Principals' Council chairman Don McLeod said it was an extremely unusual situation that had the potential to place a strain on the school.

Most schools had isolation procedures, but they were generally prepared only for the short term.

"I've never heard of a case quite like this before and, depending on the level of supervision required, it could strain school resources," said Mr McLeod.

Peau, 16, has head injuries and has been in a coma since he was bashed at a 16th birthday party in Henderson last month.

But police said yesterday he would survive.

Peau's father, James Peleti, told the Weekend Herald his son faced a long road to recovery. "We think he could have to stay in hospital for up to six months."