Conspiracy to commit murder charges dropped against man, two teens a day after being laid

A charge of conspiracy to commit murder laid against two teenagers and a young man have been suddenly dropped without explanation by SA police.

A Kilburn man and a Park Holme teenager arrested at the weekend and accused of conspiracy to murder have been released, with all charges dropped, without attending court.

Their 17-year-old co-accused from Huntfield Heights, meanwhile, has also had his charges dropped – but will remain in custody for other, unrelated alleged offending.

The withdrawal of the case, fewer than 24 hours after the arrests were announced in an SA Police press release, caught the Adelaide Magistrates and Youth Courts off-guard on Monday.

In a statement on Monday afternoon, a police spokesman said the decision had been made in consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“The 20-year-old man from Kilburn and the 15-year-old boy from Park Holme, after consultation, have been released from custody without charge,” he said.

“The 17-year-old from Huntfield Heights has also had his conspire to murder charge withdrawn.

“The initial investigation continues and police will be reviewing a large amount of electronic evidence … police have not ruled out charges being laid again at a future date.”

The charges arose from the arrests of the trio on Friday afternoon and Saturday.

Police allege they found a knife at the home of the 17-year-old on Friday, and seized electronic equipment during a search of the premises.

They seized further electronic equipment from the 15-year-old’s address and the 20-year-old’s home.

Another 17-year-old boy from Morphett Vale was reported for supplying a prohibited weapon.

Just after 3pm on Monday, the Adelaide Magistrates Court was told the 20-year-old had been released without charge and would not be brought in for hearing.

Soon after, the Youth Court heard the 15-year-old had also been released, while the charge against the 17-year-old was dropped.

Similarly, a boy, 15, from Park Holme, has had a charge of conspiracy to murder dropped and was released from custody.

He still faces charges of possession of an object with intent to kill or endanger life, possession of a prohibited weapon and assault.

The boy made no application for bail on Monday and was remanded in detention until April.

The other 17-year-old will face the Christies Beach Youth Court at a later date.