By Gina Tabonares
Variety News Staff

TWO students from John F. Kennedy High School in Tamuning yesterday appeared in the Superior Court of Guam to face the criminal charges filed against them in connection with the brutal beating of another student at the school.
Only 19-year-old Luis JR Kaluu, a 12th grade student, was identified, while the identity of his alleged accomplice, a minor, was withheld.
The minor appeared in the courtroom of Judge Alberto Lamorena in the brown pantsuit uniform of the Department of Youth Affairs in handcuffs, while Kaluu in an orange shirt remained in a detention cell and appeared before a magistrate via video conferencing.
Kaluu, also known as “Styx,” was charged with aggravated assault as a third-degree felony and disorderly conduct as a petty misdemeanor.
Judge Lamorena recommended a $5,000 bail for the temporary release of Kaluu, of Dededo. The judge instructed him to stay away from the victim, identified as Kendall N. McKinney.
The court warned Kaluu that he will be sent back to jail if he makes contact with or harasses the victim.
Government lawyers specifically asked for the stay-away order after an investigation showed that both the victim and his alleged assailants attend the same school in Tamuning.
Kaluu can go to the same school as long as he does not stay in the same school room with the victim.
He is scheduled to return for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 14 at 4 p.m.
Based on the magistrate complaint prepared by Assistant Attorney General Christopher O’ Shea, police were called to investigate the beating of a minor on Jan. 23 in the skateboard area of Lenco or Sta. Barbara Park in Dededo.
Police said a number of youths witnessed the incident and some of them even joined in punching and kicking the victim. There was even a video of the incident made by another suspect urging on the beating. From most accounts, the victim did not fight back and the main perpetrator was later identified as Kaluu.
When interviewed by police, Kaluu admitted to starting the fight because the victim had previously called him a “fag.”
He also said that he had the opportunity when he saw the victim standing by the skating rink, came up to him, and said, “This is SB turf.” Without provocation, he punched the victim several times in the back with his fist until he fell down.
During the fight, the victim fell against a fence that encloses the rink and sustained injuries that include swelling and redness to the left side of his forehead, right elbow, right side of back and a cut to his right ear.