Lawyer: Victim Intentionally Burned

– Kevin Maccioli, Medford Daily Mercury

The burning of a black Medford teen at a summer party was no accident, an attorney for the victim’s family said Wednesday.

Attorney Ozell Hudson, Jr. and the boy’s parents – Martin and Biram Seck – held a press conference yesterday to make that point clear.

Three boys – ages 12 and 13 and all believed to be Medford residents – have been charged in juvenile court with assaulting the 13-year-old seventh-grader and violating his civil rights during the early morning hours of a late August sleepover.

Hudson said at least one of the boys used the “n-word” while the alleged assault took place.

Officials allege two of the three suspects held the victim, while a third used an aerosol can of AXE body spray and a lighter to create a torch-like effect and burn the victim. He was allegedly burned more when the lighter was held right to his skin.

“Number one, my clients want to be clear this was no accident,” Hudson told the Medford Daily Mercury, calling the attack a “hate crime,” and questioning the supervision at the party.

The Boston civil rights attorney said the teen sustained 10-20 separate burns and was “severely traumatized” by the attack.

“They were torturing him,” said Hudson. “He screamed but no one came to help him despite adults supposedly being home at the time this happened.”

Speaking after the press conference, Hudson said Medford police did not initially include the alleged use of racial epithets in their reports and questioned why authorities did not immediately take the alleged attackers into custody.

Hudson said the suspects were not taken into custody until their arraignment. At least two of the three were subsequently released.

Two law enforcement officials speaking in terms not specific to this case, said suspects of this age – 12 and 13 – are generally summoned to appear in court and are not placed in custody pending arraignment.

Medford Police Lieutenant Paul Covino declined to comment on the case, saying only the incident was investigated and the case forwarded to the Middlesex District Attorney for prosecution.

The Secks are also calling on Attorney General Martha Coakley to file a civil rights injunction against the three boys.

“My clients want justice,” said Hudson, “but they also want to see the 12-and 13-year-olds responsible for this get help.”