14yrs old Boy kills Father

A HEAVILY-shackled 14-year-old boy, who is suspected of being abused, has appeared in court accused of shooting his sleeping father dead with a high-powered rifle.
US teenager Zachary Neagle, a middle school student from Caldwell, Idaho, is being held in an adult prison after being charged with first degree murder, the Idaho Press-Tribune reports.

His father, 33-year-old Jason Neagle, was found dead at the family home on Saturday.

A single bullet is believed to have pierced through his wrist and into his head.

During his first court appearance since his arrest on Tuesday, the teenager sat silently as a judge read out the accusation that he had shot his father with a high-powered rifle as he slept on a couch.

Zachary did not speak during the hearing. He sat in the courtroom with shackles attached to his hands and torso, and was wearing a prison uniform.

Canyon County Prosecutor John Bujak said a possible motive had been identified, but would not reveal any details.

The Press-Tribune reported that a family member had suspected that the dead man was abusing his son.

Caldwell detective Bill Crawford told reporters that Zachary had told officers on Tuesday that his father "had not done anything to him for a while", but did not elaborate.

The teenager will face court again in two weeks, and his bail has been set at US$300,000.