Foxdana
03-21-2011, 09:23 AM
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The 12-year-old boy filmed bullying another student in Sydney's west has broken his silence on the school yard fight that made headlines around the world.
Ritchard Gale, a year seven student at Chifley College Dunheved campus who taunted and punched year 10 student Casey Heynes, 15, before being body-slammed into the ground, said he was "sorry".
The two students shown in the clip filmed last Monday were suspended, but not before the video became an internet hit with the majority of people who watched it sympathetic to Casey's situation.
Ritchard told the Seven Network he was "pretty angry" at his schoolmate but claims he only sprung into action after being verbally provoked.
"He abused me first, he was like 'get to class' and calling me an idiot, all that kind of stuff. And I didn't like it," he said.
"That's what he's trying to say to make everyone stick up for him. It made me angry so I went down and hit him."
Ritchard, who at times broke down in tears during the interview, has admitted that he too was a victim of bullying during primary school, and that this past experience has affected him.
"It is only sometimes I snap but half the time they just keep running away so I just leave it."
When asked if he was sorry Ritchard's initial answer was "no", but with some coaxing by his father Peter Gale who was sitting off-camera, he then changed his answer to "yes".
Ritchard explained that he wasn't really sorry because "he [Casey] started on me first".
But later, although he has not spoken with Casey to apologise, he says he is remorseful about incident.
When asked if he will take part in bullying again, Ritchard replies: "Most probably not."
"Don't bully because you end up getting hurt bad."
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8226894/net-video-bully-sorry-but-says-he-was-provoked
The 12-year-old boy filmed bullying another student in Sydney's west has broken his silence on the school yard fight that made headlines around the world.
Ritchard Gale, a year seven student at Chifley College Dunheved campus who taunted and punched year 10 student Casey Heynes, 15, before being body-slammed into the ground, said he was "sorry".
The two students shown in the clip filmed last Monday were suspended, but not before the video became an internet hit with the majority of people who watched it sympathetic to Casey's situation.
Ritchard told the Seven Network he was "pretty angry" at his schoolmate but claims he only sprung into action after being verbally provoked.
"He abused me first, he was like 'get to class' and calling me an idiot, all that kind of stuff. And I didn't like it," he said.
"That's what he's trying to say to make everyone stick up for him. It made me angry so I went down and hit him."
Ritchard, who at times broke down in tears during the interview, has admitted that he too was a victim of bullying during primary school, and that this past experience has affected him.
"It is only sometimes I snap but half the time they just keep running away so I just leave it."
When asked if he was sorry Ritchard's initial answer was "no", but with some coaxing by his father Peter Gale who was sitting off-camera, he then changed his answer to "yes".
Ritchard explained that he wasn't really sorry because "he [Casey] started on me first".
But later, although he has not spoken with Casey to apologise, he says he is remorseful about incident.
When asked if he will take part in bullying again, Ritchard replies: "Most probably not."
"Don't bully because you end up getting hurt bad."
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8226894/net-video-bully-sorry-but-says-he-was-provoked