Boy, 13, charged after stabbing of 12yo on bail at time, victim may have permanent damage

A 13-year-old boy charged over the stabbing of a 12-year-old boy – who is undergoing surgery today – was on bail at the time for an appalling list of charges.

A teen charged over the brutal stabbing of a 12-year-old boy was on bail at the time and might have his charge upgraded due to the seriousness of the injuries, a court has heard.

The youth, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was unable to appear in the Adelaide Youth Court on Monday as he returned a positive test for COVID but the hearing continued in his absence.

A police prosecutor said the victim, who is in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, was undergoing surgery on Monday.

“Information has been received this morning from the investigating officer that the victim of this offending has been in surgery for his injuries and there may be permanent nerve damage,” she said.

“It’s possible that the charges may be upgraded to causing serious harm.”

Emergency services were called to Fermont Park at Elizabeth Park just before 3.30pm on Sunday after reports of an assault at Elizabeth Park.

Police found a 12-year-old boy with a stab wound to his leg and arrested the 13-year-old boy.

A second boy – a 15-year-old from Elizabeth Downs – was arrested and charged with assault cause harm on Monday. He was bailed to Elizabeth Youth Court in March.

The police prosecutor said the 13-year-old boy, who has been charged with assault causing harm, was on bail at the time of the incident for various “serious” charges.

“My submission is this is extremely serious offending and at the time … he was on bail for other serious offending being two counts of robbery, driving without consent, serious criminal trespass, aggravated assault and two breaches of bail,” she said.

“He continues to offend in a very serious way that causes a very crucial risk to the community … it has caused serious injuries to the victim.

“I do note that his involvement in the aggravated assault causing harm appears to mainly be punching to the face of the victim while the co-accused has stabbed the victim in the left hamstring.”

The police prosecutor said the youth and his co-accused have also been charged with theft after the victim’s school bag was taken.

“Both accused have fled the scene after the incident and stolen the youth’s school bag.

“The youth did make some admissions to police at the time to punching the victim but then stated he had walked away before hearing the victim scream and then turned around to see the co-accused holding the knife.

Defence counsel, for the youth, asked for her client to be released on bail to reside with a “cultural family friend” in Victoria.

“Electronic monitoring is not an appropriate form of bail for a young person who’s only just turned 13 who comes before the court with no history, he does have a cultural community in Victoria but also family in South Australia who can support him,” she said.

Magistrate Alison Adair ordered a bail report to assess the suitability of the address given it was listed on the youth’s previous bail agreement.

The boy’s fmily were in the courtroom to support the young teen, with his mother visibly upset. As the family left court the woman told media her son is a “good boy”.

The teen will next appear in the Adelaide Youth Court later this week.

Both boys are believed to be known to the victim and this was not a random incident.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or has dashcam or CCTV footage that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.