Bullied girl prosecuted for defending herself

AN 11-year-old girl who threw a rock to defend herself as neighbourhood boys pelted her with water balloons is being prosecuted on a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon.

Maribel Cuevas says she didn't mean to hurt the nine-year-old boy, who acknowledged to officers that he started the fight in late April. He was released from the hospital after getting head stitches.

Maribel has already spent five days in juvenile hall with one half-hour visit from her parents. She then spent 30 days under house arrest, wearing a GPS ankle bracelet to monitor her whereabouts and is now due back in court next month.