This is the story of how Raymond ended up at those gates and what happened inside Echo Wild Game Rangers camp. During the subsequent trial, which runs from 2012 to 2015, Wilna is vilified on social media and forced to relocate. His kidneys are failing and his brain is damaged. The tips of his ears are missing and his hair has been scoured off. When he is admitted to hospital, Wilna does not recognise her son: he is skeletal and has more than 60 separate injuries including a broken arm, broken ribs and chemical and electrical burns. Three months later, on 20 April, Raymond will be pronounced dead by doctors so traumatised by his injuries they require counselling.
Gys found the camp, run by Alex de Koker, a former soldier known as “the General” who promises to “make men out of boys”. Wilna can’t cope, the family is fracturing. Raymond, who was diagnosed with learning difficulties, aged nine, has been removed from yet another school. This place is supposed to be a fresh start.
