The shadow world

In February 2003, a young Japanese student was murdered by his fellows at an academy for overseas students "situated in a western district of the largest city of this land, Auckland" [p.15] [West Harbour, Waitakere City]. Thirteen men were accused of murder and granted bail. Most of the witnesses - students and staff members - left New Zealand, as well as the murdered student’s parents, and refused to return to give evidence so murder charges were replaced by manslaughter. The four students who were finally sentenced took responsibility for the whole group of thirteen, nine of whom had the victim’s blood on their clothes. The academy was found to be unregistered and closed down three months after the murder. The Shadow World is a fictionalized account of this sensational event.