[Blasted Child]

First of all, that kid didn't behave like that just because he never had any boundaries or reprimands, nor because he is evil and deserves to get beaten. This is clearly someone who's either suffering from ADD or some other of the numerous abbreviations within the autism-spectrum, or possibly some kind of post-traumatic stress.
Sometimes people read too much into parenting, as if kids can't turn into loose cannons as long as they're kept on a short leash. Of course, in this case bad parenting was part of the problem, but I've worked with really disastrous kids who have come from perfectly functional families.

I feel infinite sympathy for this kid. I hope he can get into some kind of day center with adequately trained professionals, get Ritalin or similar amphetamine based treatment, lots of special schooling etc etc.

And no, beating children is never good, in any way. There is always a better solution.