Bail bid withdrawn for teen charged over Westfield Marion fight that sparked lockdown
One of three youths charged over the chaotic Westfield Marion evacuation has lost a first bail bid – the news causing fury in court.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A bail bid for a youth charged over the Westfield Marion lockdown has been withdrawn, leading to a courtroom outburst.
On Tuesday, the 16-year-old boy of no fixed address stood up from his chair and exclaimed “this is bulls**t, bro” after Magistrate Alision Adair explained he would not be going home and his bail application had been withdrawn.
Detention centre staff could be heard through the audiovisual link telling him to “not do that” after he walked out of the camera’s view.
Banging could be heard through the link before it was switched off.
The 16-year-old was one of three boys arrested after an alleged armed brawl inside Westfield Marion on Sunday, June 23, which sent the centre into lockdown.
Prosecutors alleged the boys were armed with extendible batons and a machete.
During the initial court appearance after the three boys’ arrests, the court heard the fight that led to the chaotic evacuation and lockdown was allegedly started over an attempt to steal a $155 jumper.
The three teens are yet to enter a plea to one count of aggravated affray, aggravated assault and aggravated robbery.
The court heard that in the bail suitability report ordered by the court previously, the 16-year-old boy’s mother was currently staying in a caravan – but only for the next week.
The court heard they were currently homeless.
Kassandra Girolamo, for the boy, asked the court to allow a fresh bail application to be lodged if another address became available and was suitable for home detention bail.
Thousands of people rushed to leave Westfield Marion that Sunday afternoon after alarms were sounded and reports of an armed offender flooded the centre.
STAR Group officers headed to the scene after the brawl, during which a knife was seen.
Two people were injured in the chaos, a 77-year-old woman who sustained a fracture and a 14-year-old was also reportedly injured.
Some shoppers and staff – including some as young as 12 – sheltered in stores for multiple hours while family and friends waited anxiously outside.
Two weeks ago, a review into the large-scale response and lockdown found centre management and police acted appropriately under the circumstances.
But Commissioner Grant Stevens said there were lessons to be learned from the response.
“I am satisfied that the decisions made by Westfield were appropriate based on the information they had,” he said. “I’m also very satisfied with the police response.”
But he flagged there could be some “minor improvements” in how Westfield initiates “those particular types of alerts” and how they are communicated in the centres.
Ms Adair remanded the matter to the Christies Beach youth court in August.
Exposed: The costly crimes of SA’s con-artists and fraudsters
From accountants fleecing millions from clients to dodgy doctors, lawyers and tradies, these criminals all ended up proving crime doesn’t pay.
Man tried to set woman on fire, days after jail release, court told
A day after being released from jail, a man allegedly poured acetone on a woman and tried to set her on fire – but his lawyer claims the alleged victim has “serious credibility issues”.