Author(s): P.C.Laird

Fiction.

In February 2003, a young Japanese student was murdered by his fellows at an Auckland academy for overseas students. 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 studentÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs 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 victimÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs 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.