First of all, I'd like to say to Millenium that I'm sorry you know ANYONE involved in such a situation. It is definitely a strange, sad feeling.
That being said, I wouldn't even refer to them as "friends" anymore. FORMER friends, maybe, but anybody I know does something like that, they ain't my friend.
To harass someone on their own property, then beat him, is just plain sorry. And over some dents in a car? Please. That might call for being pissed with someone, but it doesn't warrant bringing out baseball bats.
These punks deserve to get nailed to the wall, max penalty. Their young age is irrelevant. It makes it that much more of a shame, but should have no bearing on their sentence.
I bet that one kid wailing in the court for mommy had just pictured himself as Big Bubba's next cell mate.
Sad all the way around, but they chose their own paths.
My condolences to the Hills.