Boys filmed beating girl, 15, sentenced to community service

Two boys, aged 14 and 16, were sentenced to 80 hours of community service for assaulting a 15-year-old girl from Beverwijk in September. The incident in IJmuiden, Noord-Holland was caught on tape and the video soon went viral. The boys hit the victim in the face twice, causing her to fall and hit her head on a shop front. While down, the girl received a kick in her hip and another at the height of her head. The two boys received 80 hours of community service, of which 40 are conditional. During a two-year probation period, they must adhere to specific conditions and attend requisite meetings with juvenile rehabilitation. When determining the punishment, the severity of the act needed to be taken into account, according to the court statement. "Both parties were surrounded by a large group of young people who knew in advance there would be a fight. This created a charged atmosphere that influenced the behavior of the accused and the victim," said the court. The video had a big impact on both the victim and the accused, the court states. The victim has often been recognized on the street and approached by people, thus repeatedly reminded of the abuse. The two suspects were forced to go into hiding for some time because of threats they received.