Boy tells trial on child sex abuse and witchcraft charges how he was forced to drink alcohol and beaten unconscious by group of adults before rescuing another child locked in a freezer
A BOY has claimed he was abused, knocked unconscious and forced to drink alcohol by members of an alleged pedophilia and witchcraft ring.
The youngster told a trial yesterday that he also had to help save a young girl from being locked in a freezer.
Seven men and four women are on trial at the High Court in Glasgow on a total of 32 charges which allegedly took place in the city between January 2010 and October 2020.
The charges relate to four children, including rape, other sexual offenses, witchcraft and attempted murder.
Jurors yesterday watched three interviews with the boy interviewed by police in 2019 and 2020.
During the last one, he was questioned about meetings with members of the group. The boy was with other alleged victims at the time.
Seven men and four women are on trial at the High Court in Glasgow
The young man: “They all arrived at the same time, as if it was planned. »
When asked what happened next, he added: “They hit us all with their fists, with pots and pans. The kind of pots you put beans in, pots.
The boy said he and two other children ended up “unconscious.”
He told police: “I only remember waking up on the floor. I went to get some bandages for us.
The boy claimed he had “scratches and bruises almost everywhere on my body.”
During another moment spent with members of the group, the young person remembers being “forced” to enter a room.
The boy said one of the 11 “put” a bottle of Buckfast in his mouth. He thought one of the other kids had been given something to drink as well.
He also claimed another member of the group had “big cameras” with him. The detective asked, “Did he film what happened that day?” »
The boy replied, “Yes.” »
In an earlier interview broadcast yesterday, the child told how one of the other alleged victims locked himself in various kitchen appliances.
He said the girl was left in a microwave “for a few minutes”. The boy claimed she was also kept in an oven. When asked if the device was on, he replied: “Off, like if the device was on she would probably be dead.” »
He added and a girl took the child out.
The couple also had to rescue the same youngster from a freezer. He remembers the girl being “curled up in a little ball” and the first thing she said was “help.”
Jurors were told the girl was locked in an unlit refrigerator.
The boy further stated that he saw her hanging from a nail on a wall for 10 minutes by one of the 11, so she “learned a lesson.”
Iain Owens, 45, Elaine Lannery, 39, Lesley Williams, 41, Paul Brannan, 41, Marianne Gallagher, 38, Scott Forbes, 50, Barry Watson, 47, Mark Carr, 50, Richard Gachagan , 45, Leona Laing, 51, and John Clark, 47, deny the charges they face.
The trial, before Judge Lord Beckett, continues on Monday.
