Bullied teen's massacre threat

ABIGAIL CASPARI | 3rd February 2007

The essay was called "Whites Only".

And when its author Christopher Russell, 17, read it out in class, it started an awful chain reaction that led to threats of a "Columbine" massacre.

The essay's contents were based on the Rotorua teenager's apparent hate for Maori and "black" people.

It was a hatred that Judge Chris McGuire says reflected Russell's psychological state at the time - it was not "out and out racism".

Regardless of the motive, Russell was subsequently bullied by people offended by his extreme views.

Russell hit back on September 18 last year by sending an obscenity-littered email to the New Zealand Herald threatening a school massacre.

He drew a chilling comparison to the 1999 Columbine High School killings in the United States in which two students killed 12 people and injured 24 others.

Russell later told police he would have aimed to kill or injure about 100 people.

The email to the NZ Herald stated Russell was about to become more famous than the Columbine killers - "The murders I do ... shall be greater than those at Columbine."

He claimed a hatred for Maori who beat him up, and black people.

"If black people want to hurt me or insult me then they should be the first to die."

A second email the next day stated that "on October 18 everyone will feel my pain".

Bombs would be used in the massacre, he said.

"I am sick and tired of the abuse I get every day."

He detailed how he would also kill "popular kids who exclude me from everything" and signed off with the pseudonym "Chris Stalin".

Yesterday, Russell was sentenced to 200 hours community work and 18 months supervision, which will include intensive psychotherapy.

He had earlier admitted a charge of threatening to kill students.

Judge McGuire suppressed the name of Russell's school, but did not suppress Russell's name.

Lawyer Bill Lawson said he was concerned about retribution if Russell was named, but his client was neutral about name suppression.

Russell apologised through Mr Lawson, and said he was embarrassed about some of the content of the emails. He realised the seriousness of what he had done.

Russell had not had it easy and felt alienated, Mr Lawson said.

Judge Chris McGuire said Russell had spent two months in custody since making the threats.

The fact that Russell had not made any preparations for the "ghastly mayhem" he had talked about "cuts little ice".

"This threat was rightly taken as serious indeed."

Russell had been seen by two health experts, one of whom said Russell was suffering from depression and early signs of schizophrenia, and would need psychiatric help.

The other expert commented that Russell had social phobias and low self esteem.

Given the public safety concerns Russell would ordinarily be going to jail.

However, those concerns had to be weighed against Russell's psychological difficulties, Judge McGuire said.

He noted that Russell's social and psychological difficulties, rather than "out and out racism", were behind his actions.

"If it were otherwise you would be going to jail for a significant period of time," Judge McGuire said.

He said he acknowledged Russell had been a victim of bullying and received counselling.

"Bullying is an insidious cancer that I don't think any New Zealand school is free of. I'm certainly confident that your school and other schools [in this community] are doing their utmost to combat this particular cancer."

There was a low risk of Russell re-offending but that risk could increase unless he got help for his psychological problems and alcohol abuse.

"I need to make it clear that this is a once only opportunity for you in this regard, that you need to take 100 per cent full advantage of it."

Russell was also convicted of damaging a bus shelter, stealing money from his mother's bank account and taking her car. He was ordered to pay reparation of $300 to the Rotorua District Council and $125 to his mother.