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| - Three teenagers charged with beating a 16-year-old boy to death after weeks of repeated bullying appeared in court in Finland on Wednesday in a case which has shocked the country. The victim was "sadistically" assaulted for up to four hours before he died on December 4 in a park in northern Helsinki, by the trio who also filmed the attack, police said. The defendants denied murdering the boy, who prosecutors said died of brain injuries and a punctured lung caused by broken ribs. "This was no game, but pure violence," prosecutor Satu Pomoell told the court. The attackers, aged 15 and 16 at the time, face charges of murder as well as robbery and eight counts of assault in the weeks leading up to the boy's death, court documents seen by AFP show. A fourth boy is also charged with robbery. Many details relating to the murder have not been released by judges at the Helsinki district court due to the age of the defendants and victim, but the murder has shocked the country. An investigation by public broadcaster Yle, based on interviews with the victim's parents and teachers at the school, alleged that staff at the care home where he lived refused to search for him when he failed to return. His body was only discovered the following Monday, police said. Police have said they are investigating whether to bring charges against any school or child protection staff. Official statistics show that almost half of all 14 to 16 year-olds in care in Finland have experienced bullying and the threat of violence. The case is due to continue until March 3 with a judgement expected later in the year. sgk/jll/spm
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