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Teen bullied on internet chat site commits suicide
Last updated at 16:07pm on 12.04.07A teenager was found hanged at his home after allegedly being bullied over the Internet by pupils from his school.
Casey Knibbs, 13, received taunts and death threats from four other pupils on his home page on the popular teenage chat site Bebo.
It is believed a former girlfriend was involved in the bullying, which started after the pair had split up.
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Casey Knibbs is believed to have hung himself after he was bullied online
One of the pupils involved allegedly threatened: "If you don't kill yourself, we will do it for you."
Casey was found at the £350,000 family home in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, when his mother and father returned from parents' evening.
The schoolboy was taken to Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, where he was pronounced dead.
Police are believed to have interviewed three girls and a boy from Kingsbury Comprehensive School in the village of Kingsbury, on the Staffordshire and Warwickshire border.
A source at the school said: "There were allegations of bullying on some sort of Internet chat room and the police have interviewed pupils.
"An ex-girlfriend was apparently at the centre of it and I don't think she has attended school since Casey died. She wasn't suspended, I just think she stayed away of her own volition.
"Casey's parents came home after parents' night and found him hanging, apparently. I can only imagine what they are going through."
Parents said the majority of pupils at the school were sickened by Casey's death on March 15 and feelings were running high against those thought to have bullied him.
One pupil's mother said: "It is absolutely tragic - parents need to be aware of what is happening on these websites.
"My daughter told me that Casey never said a word to anyone about it - until it was too late.
"I heard that before he hanged himself he had left a note giving the names of the three girls and one boy who had been bullying him.
"His homepage was shutdown shortly after he died but my daughter's friend said one of the messages read; 'If you don't kill yourself then we will do it for you'."
Another anonymous mother said: "Two of the bullies even had the nerve to turn up at his funeral with their parents.
"All the kids at the school know who they are.
"It is disgraceful - those four kids should have been expelled straight away."
A message from a fellow Bebo user said: "Hey baby I miss u so much. I can't believe you're gone I really want to see u again. I love you so much baby R.I.P sweetheart xxx."
Bebo is a 'social networking' site which allows young people to build personal pages, with profiles and pictures, and communicate with friends.
But concerns have been raised that material posted on the site could be exploited by potential abusers.
In July last year Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School in Kent banned use of the site at school. Head teacher Linda Wybar said they had since become aware of girls posting images which could be "soft pornography in the hands of the wrong person".
A spokesman for Warwickshire Police said: "As is usual in cases of sudden and unexpected death we are preparing a report for the Coroner to find out why a seemingly happy 13 year old boy should take his own life.
"This report will be passed to the Coroner when completed to assist in the inquest. The details of that report are not available to the media at this time."
He said the death was not being treated as suspicious.
Casey's parents Craig, a 47-year-old businessman, and Gillian, were too upset to comment at their three-bedroom cottage.
A flag of St George was at half mast in the garden.
The school, a specialist science and maths college, is closed for Easter. It is unclear if any of the alleged bullies were suspended after the incident.
In a prepared statement, headteacher Anne Rogerson said the keen footballer was "a delightful young man".
An Ofsted inspection last year found the 630 pupil school was "satisfactory and improving".
Last month, electrician Kevin Whitrick, 42, from Wellington, Shropshire, hanged himself live over the Internet in Britain's first 'cyber suicide'.
Mr Whitrick, who suffered from depression, took his life after being goaded by dozens of users of the Paltalk.com chatroom who initially believed he was playacting
Reader views (4)
I went to this school in the 70's. my thoughts are with the family dont blame yourselfs. My son recently went through bad bullying at school in cambridge he was suisidal, thankfully the school took notice and now we have started to come out the otherside.
I felt so helpless, we got help through school our gp and connexions, he is still having coucilling but we are getting there.
I know its hard but just remember the good times, kindest regards anita :o)
- Anita, cam,bridge
Casey was a great boy. He never put anyone down and he was always there for his friends. We only wish Casey didn't take his own life. He is missed very much.
- Charlotte & Megan, Wilnecote High School
This young man's death is an appalling tragedy, and a dreadful waste of potential. It is impossible for most of us to imagine the anguish of his family and friends.
But, don't let us imagine that 'cyber-bullying' is something that is only done by young people. Has anyone read the comments about the two sailors who were unwise enough to sell their stories to the Press?
Many of the comments, made by soldiers and sailors, demonstrate that bullying is alive and well amongst our armed forces. And, just like bullying kids, some of the military bullies are too cowardly to give their real names - they hide behind unidentifiable 'cyber-names'.
With examples like this, is it any wonder that kids bully? Is it any wonder that our kids are amongst the unhappiest in the affluent world?
Let's stop talking about tackling bullying - and let's start doing something useful.
We could begin by recognising that 'adults' have to clean up their act as well as kids.
- Dr S. Newton, Brighton, UK
The Police should prosecute them for manslaughter.
- Ben, London, England
