Prosecutors want teenager who allegedly made a bomb and took it on to a bus to be tried as an adult
A teenager who allegedly took a homemade bomb on a bus could be tried as an adult, exposing him to a potentially harsher penalty, if prosecutors succeed.
- Teen fronts court accused of taking a bomb on to a bus
- Teen ‘built a bomb, but didn’t endanger bus’, court told
- Teen ‘languishing’ in custody while DPP thinks, says court
Prosecutors will seek to try as an adult a teenager, who admits he built a bomb but denies endangering the lives of others by taking it on a bus.
On Thursday, SA Police told the Youth Court that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions would be taking over the case against the teenager.
They will seek an order he be tried in the District Court, rather than the Youth Court, for endangering life.
If successful, the bid would expose the teenager to a potentially harsher prison term if convicted of the offence.
The youth, whose identity is suppressed by law, has previously told the court he will plead guilty to two counts of possessing supplies or taking steps to manufacture an explosive.
He has indicated he will also plead guilty to one count of using, possessing or supplying an explosive substance without a lawful excuse.
Police charged him with those offences, and one count of endangering life, following his arrest in March for allegedly carrying a pipe bomb on to a public bus.
In April, the case against him stalled when police declined to drop the remaining charges in exchange for his offered pleas and instead sought the advice of the DPP.
Last week, police said that advice had yet to arrive and asked for further time, prompting Magistrate Luke Davis to complain the youth was “languishing” in custody.
On Thursday, counsel for the boy asked all evidence to be led against their client be filed ahead of the DPP’s bid for an adult trial.
Magistrate Luke Davis agreed, and will hear argument on the application next month.