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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| High school American football players 'raped disabled black teammate with coat hanger' | High school American football players 'raped disabled black teammate with coat hanger' |
| (3 days later) | |
| Three teenage American football players have been charged for violently raping their teammate with a coat hanger. | Three teenage American football players have been charged for violently raping their teammate with a coat hanger. |
| The trio, who are all white, allegedly sexually assaulted the 18-year-old, who is African American and has learning difficulties, in a school changing room. | The trio, who are all white, allegedly sexually assaulted the 18-year-old, who is African American and has learning difficulties, in a school changing room. |
| A lawsuit filed by the victim’s family, seen by The Independent, states one of the attackers held out his arms to the victim and pretended to hug him. | A lawsuit filed by the victim’s family, seen by The Independent, states one of the attackers held out his arms to the victim and pretended to hug him. |
| But instead he was forcibly held as 17-year-old Tanner Ward “physically forced a coat hanger into [his rectum]”. | But instead he was forcibly held as 17-year-old Tanner Ward “physically forced a coat hanger into [his rectum]”. |
| John Howard, 18, then "kicked the hanger several times," causing injuries requiring hospital treatment. | John Howard, 18, then "kicked the hanger several times," causing injuries requiring hospital treatment. |
| The assault is said to have taken place in October 2015 in the changing rooms of a high school in Dietrich, a small town in the western US state of Idaho. | The assault is said to have taken place in October 2015 in the changing rooms of a high school in Dietrich, a small town in the western US state of Idaho. |
| According to the lawsuit, the brutal attack was the culmination of months of racist abuse. | According to the lawsuit, the brutal attack was the culmination of months of racist abuse. |
| It says the victim, whose name has not been made public, was regularly “taunted and called racist names by other members of the team, which names included ‘Kool-Aid’, ‘chicken eater’ ‘watermelon’ and [the N-word].” | It says the victim, whose name has not been made public, was regularly “taunted and called racist names by other members of the team, which names included ‘Kool-Aid’, ‘chicken eater’ ‘watermelon’ and [the N-word].” |
| The vicious bullying is said to have included “aggressive ‘humping’, jumping on him from the back and simulating anal sex.” | The vicious bullying is said to have included “aggressive ‘humping’, jumping on him from the back and simulating anal sex.” |
| The football players are also said to have given the victim painful wedgies and stripped him naked on a school bus while returning from a football game. | The football players are also said to have given the victim painful wedgies and stripped him naked on a school bus while returning from a football game. |
| Other incidents of abuse listed in the document include the victim being forced to wear boxing gloves to fight Mr Howard while surrounded by peers and staff on a residential football camp, and being made to learn and recite a racist song known as “Notorious KKK”. | Other incidents of abuse listed in the document include the victim being forced to wear boxing gloves to fight Mr Howard while surrounded by peers and staff on a residential football camp, and being made to learn and recite a racist song known as “Notorious KKK”. |
| Mr Howard and Mr Ward could face life in prison, while the 16-year-old has been charged as a juvenile and his name has not been released. | Mr Howard and Mr Ward could face life in prison, while the 16-year-old has been charged as a juvenile and his name has not been released. |
| Dietrich High School itself and 11 staff and coaches are accused of allowing the abuse to take place towards the victim, who is said to have “mental disorders including learning disabilities”. | Dietrich High School itself and 11 staff and coaches are accused of allowing the abuse to take place towards the victim, who is said to have “mental disorders including learning disabilities”. |
| Mr Howard is described as a “large and aggressive male who had been sent to live with his relatives in Idaho due to his inability to keep out of trouble in Texas”. | Mr Howard is described as a “large and aggressive male who had been sent to live with his relatives in Idaho due to his inability to keep out of trouble in Texas”. |
| The school is accused of “deliberate indifference” towards the case. The lawsuit partly attributes this to Mr Howard’s “athletic ability and community connections”. | The school is accused of “deliberate indifference” towards the case. The lawsuit partly attributes this to Mr Howard’s “athletic ability and community connections”. |
| It states: "The defendants did nothing to curb the vicious acts of Mr Howard who brought with him from Texas a culture of racial hatred." | It states: "The defendants did nothing to curb the vicious acts of Mr Howard who brought with him from Texas a culture of racial hatred." |
| Mr Howard is currently completing high school education in Texas, according to the Washinton Post, and will appear in court on 10 June. | Mr Howard is currently completing high school education in Texas, according to the Washinton Post, and will appear in court on 10 June. |
| Dietrich has a predominately white population of 335, with more than a quarter of residents living below the poverty level, according to government statistics. | Dietrich has a predominately white population of 335, with more than a quarter of residents living below the poverty level, according to government statistics. |
| After Mr Howard's arrest in March, school Superintendent Ben Hardcastle told local newspaper Magic Valley the school would not comment on the case, but that it has given “full support to the investigation”. | After Mr Howard's arrest in March, school Superintendent Ben Hardcastle told local newspaper Magic Valley the school would not comment on the case, but that it has given “full support to the investigation”. |
| The Independent has contacted Dietrich High School for comment. | The Independent has contacted Dietrich High School for comment. |