[Jimbuna]

Excuse me if I interpret this extremely sad and serious business in a distinctly methodical way.....

An 8 year old child is simply that....a child.

Parents have a responsibility and a duty of care to their offspring.

This act was carried out in the USA.

This child was below the legal age of consent.

Unless I'm missing something of fundamental importance here, that constitutes the crime of rape.

Regardless of cultural beliefs, the parents are failing in there duty of care now.

Anyone residing in a country is subject to the laws of said country.

I don't know and understand the laws of America as well as I understand those in the UK but if the above crime had been committed in the UK the parents would very likely be prosecuted for the offences of child abandonment, neglect, cruelty and failing in their duty of care.

The child would be taken into protective care and housed with foster parents.

I hope the youngster recovers and is able to lead as normal a life as possible in the future.

As a parent of a daughter I'd probably be charged with having committed some serious offence shortly after the boys were released.