According to media reports, nine young Boston men and teenagers have been charged with beating a young retarded man many of them allegedly knew.

The Boston Globe has reported that Bail was set at $500 for nine defendants ages 17 to 20 at a hearing Tuesday. They were charged with assaulting a disabled person.

It was also reported that their lawyers say they deny the attack. One said his client was across the street and was arrested as police "rounded up the usual suspects" and another said his client was trying to help the victim.

Two teens ages 15 and 16 were charged as juveniles.

A man told the Globe he called police after hearing screams while he worked in his garden.

The man said, "It appeared at first that five or six kids were walking away from the kid, who was lying on the street. Then they all turned back, and several others came from across the street. They were kicking and punching him. It was terrible. He was screaming and crying."

The victim was described as a 19-year-old developmentally disabled man.(With Inputs from Agencies)