The brutal physical assault on an Aboriginal teenager has left him and his family living in fear.
The 12-year-old was attacked by two boys on the night of April 23 in the northern-NSW town of Singleton.
Video footage of the incident shows the boys repeatedly beating and verbally assaulting the young man. It’s alleged at least one of the boys was armed with knuckle dusters.
The incident is believed to be in response to a claimed assault of a young woman.
Footage of the alleged assault on the 12-year-old Aboriginal boy. Source: Supplied
According to the boy's mother, Kylie, her son was taken to Singleton Hospital by a woman present at the time.
Her son became unconscious and woke up in the hospital covered in blood. Kylie said she wasn’t made aware he had been hospitalised until the following day.
“He’s gone all funny from it,” she said about her son.
“He sat at the window, watching out there and he’s looking at the cars. I said, what are you doing with the cars, he said, I’m trying to show you what kind of car they have mum, in case they pull up.
"We tell our kids we can protect them but you can’t when there are people like that.
“He got hurt too young. It shouldn’t have happened to him."
Police still investigating
Eight weeks on from the attack, no charges have been laid.
NSW Police attended the family home the day after the assault, and commenced inquiries after they were provided video footage.
“The matter was reported to police on 5 May 2022 and an investigation commenced,” they told NITV News in a statement.
“Inquiries are continuing.”
Currently, Kylie and her son are staying with family, away from Singleton. They say they've been receiving threats since the incident, which have increased since police became involved.
Her son has refused to return to Singleton High School, in fear for his safety.
The family has requested a housing transfer in the hope of moving somewhere new – and starting over, but Ms Clarke said she's been told that's is not possible until someone is charged.
“I’m too scared to go home. And that happened to my oldest boy who can protect himself, what’s going to happen to my kids that can’t protect themselves on the streets," she said.
Singleton High School is supporting the family, providing a letter of recommendation.
A letter from Singleton High School sent in support of Kylie and her son. Source: Supplied
Obtained by NITV News, it was written by an executive staff member and notes that the teenager hasn’t returned to school since the assault. It also states that the boys who are believed to have attacked him are “two older students” from the school.
“As a school, we have referred the matter to Singleton Police for investigation and forwarded them a copy of the footage of the incident which was provided to staff,” it read.
It says that whilst staff members from Clontarf, an Aboriginal boys’ engagement program, have been working with the family and the student, the issues remain.
The school noted that both mother and son are “so fearful of further repercussions that their preference is to move to a different area for a fresh start".
Singleton High School and the NSW Department of Education declined NITV News' request for comment.
Kylie said her family won't feel safe until something is done.
"It's affected me and the kids, it’s a lot, it’s a lot. I just feel helpless. I can’t protect them, I can’t and make them feel better, I can’t," she said.
"Teach these little boys before they turn into men. That’s what frightens me. Look at the damage they’ve done now.”
