'I don't know about forgiveness': Teenage victim of brutal gang beating talks about 'lynching' attack for first time



Student, 18, was so badly injured his mother almost didn't recognise him



Four members of gang were charged under state's old lynching law

Youngest 'attacker' was just 13



The 18-year-old student who was brutally beaten in an alleged attack by a teenage gang has spoken out for the first time about his ordeal.

Four members of the gang were charged under South Carolina's old lynching law for the vicious beating, which left Carter Strange so badly injured he required facial reconstruction surgery.

Today he gave a television interview in which he said he wasn't sure he'd ever be able to forgive his attackers.

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Brutal assault: Carter Strange appeared on the Today show this morning, and said he 'didn't know about forgiveness' for his attackers

The eight boys, the youngest of whom was just 13, allegedly set upon Carter in a parking lot as he ran back to his house in Columbia so he could be back in time for his midnight curfew.

This morning Carter, who is recovering at home, told the Today show: 'I don't know about forgiveness, but, I mean, I don't really think about it that much, I try not to let them be on my mind too much.'

He had to have emergency surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain, and underwent an operation on Thursday to rebuild his nose, which was badly broken. He also suffered a fractured eye socket.

His parents have already said they will struggle to forgive the eight teenagers who allegedly attacked their son last Monday night - just to steal his cell phone.

Anger: Carter with his mother Vicki and father John. His father said he feels the gang's defence lawyers are trying to 'make light' of the attack

This morning his father, John, told Today he didn't agree with the gang's defence lawyers, who claim they were good boys who made a mistake.

He said: 'It sounds like they're making excuses and trying to make light of the situation. It wasn't like they were a group of kids that went out and did some property damage - they almost took someone's life.'

In the interview Carter's mother, Vicki, relived the horrific moment she first saw a badly-injured man lying on a hospital gurney - and slowly realised it was her son.

She said: 'When I saw how bad he looked I felt really bad for him. My first thought was poor guy, and then I looked at him and I thought, his hair looks like Carter's.

Brutal assault: Carter Strange was left so badly beaten his mother almost didn't recognise him when she saw him lying on the hospital bed



'I couldn't stop looking at the gentleman on the gurney and think that was Carter's hair, and then I walked up and bent over and saw his hands, and saw it was Carter.

I didn't recognise him, I just knew him from his hair and his hands. And I was relieved, because I'd finally found my son.'

They also described how they went into 'panic mode' when Carter failed to arrive home, after calling his mother to say he was running late but he'd be home in a couple of minutes.

His father said: 'Were already worried, it's not like him to miss his curfew, maybe a few minutes, but then when he just didn't shown up.'

Savage attack: Carter Strange pictured before and after the brutal assault



They were so worried that they started monitoring his cell phone activity. Mr Strange said: 'When we started seeing calls and messages to numbers that weren't familiar, who we knew were not friends of his, that's when we kind of went into panic mode.

Mr and Mrs Strange both appeared on court on Friday, to watch as the eldest of the gang, 19-year-old Thyeem Henrey, was charged with second-degree assault and battery by mob, common law robbery, and criminal conspiracy.

Until last year, the crime of assault and battery by mob was known as lynching under South Carolina law.

Henrey cried as Mr and Mrs Strange vented their anger in the courtroom.

Accused: Thyeem Henrey, 19, cried in court on Friday as he was charged with second-degree assault and battery by mob

Roaming: CCTV cameras caught the eight boys as they walked around Columbia, South Carolina, late on Monday night

Mrs Strange said: ' Since Carter didn't fight against them eight Sunday, I'm going to fight for him now. I'm going to fight for him until my last breath.'

Her husband said: 'I pray that you get your life right. Find God. If you pray for forgiveness, he will forgive you. I don't have that in my heart right now. Maybe one day, but not today.'

Police said the gang turned themselves in after CCTV footage was released of the eight roaming around the city centre.

On Friday a 14-year-old, 15-year-old, and 16-year-old appeared in juvenile court to be charged with strong arm robbery, second-degree assault and battery by a mob, and criminal conspiracy.



A 13-year-old and three other 16-year-olds were charged with criminal conspiracy.

They are all too young to be named.

Henrey remains in custody. His bond was set at $750,000.

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