Australia’s youngest terrorist allegedly ‘made flag, used knife and sharpened toothbrush’ while in custody, court told

Australia’s youngest terrorist drew propaganda and committed violence with improvised weapons while in youth detention, a court has heard.

Australia’s youngest terrorist has allegedly used a knife and a sharpened toothbrush in violent incidents, and drawn Islamic State-themed pictures, while in custody, a court has heard.

On Thursday, counsel for the 16-year-old – who was 14 at the time of his crimes – asked the District Court to postpone their client’s sentencing yet again.

Chris Weir, for the boy, said top forensic psychologist Luke Broomhall needed to “reassess” his client, because of both the alleged incidents and the boy’s “instructions” to counsel.

Judge Paul Muscat said the delay was necessary but unwelcome, as it added to backlog issues already plaguing the jurisdiction.

“The defendant was committed to this court from the Youth Court last year, he appeared in this court in February, it was adjourned, now we’re halfway through June,” he said.

“This court is becoming frustrated through the lengthy delays caused by psychologists taking such a long time to prepare their reports.

“It’s not infrequent, now, that somebody who gets committed to this court is not sentenced for somewhere between six and 12 months … that never used to be the case.”

The boy pleaded guilty to seven charges ranging from possessing and distributing extremist material through to possessing documents that could be used for a terrorist attack.

The boy had drawn the Islamic State flag while in youth detention, and was involved in violent incidents, court documents allege.

Those offences occurred at South Plympton between January 14 and March 16, 2022 – prosecutors had originally said they would seek to have the boy tried as an adult.

Instead, the boy admitted possessing extremist material, providing bomb-making instruction to others via the internet and speaking the Bay’ah – the Islamic State pledge of allegiance.

Previously, the Youth Court heard that, following his arrest, authorities found a homemade IS flag in the boy’s room at a detention centre.

On Thursday, the court heard that written reports about the boy’s time in detention, supported by police affidavits, alleged further poor behaviour.

The reports outline alleged incidents in October 2022 and April 2023, one involving a knife and the other involving a sharpened toothbrush handle.

Mr Weir said Mr Broomhall’s current report was “extensive” but, because “issues have arisen”, needed to be reconsidered and updated.

“I accept there’s been a rather long delay but this report has involved Mr Broomhall interviewing a number of individuals,” he said.

“It’s been a substantial process, and it’s a substantial report that is pivotal to my ultimate submission.”

He conceded he had yet to decide whether he would ask the court to sentence the boy as a youth, with a maximum three-year term, or an adult, with a seven-year penalty.

“The report will be an important aspect in sentencing my client, and I will need to consider that report,” he said.

Judge Muscat remanded the youth in detention to face court again next month.