Schoolgirl basher now one of three teens accused of violent taxi theft

A teenage girl who brutally bashed a schoolmate in an attack that horrified the state is back behind bars. Along with two other teens, she is accused of bashing a taxi driver with a bottle before a 200km joyride.

The Year 8 schoolgirl who was brutally bashed in a filmed attack in February, just a week into her first year at high school. One of the girls who attacked her is now accused of violently robbing a taxi driver. Picture: Matt Turner

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A teenage girl who bashed a classmate earlier this year, leaving her with serious facial injuries in a shocking filmed attack, is back in custody after allegedly stealing a taxi and assaulting its driver before being caught almost 200km away.

The 15-year-old girl, another aged 17 and a 15-year-old boy were all arrested near where the taxi was dumped in an orchard on the outskirts of Berri in the early hours of Saturday morning.

All three were refused police bail and appeared in the Adelaide Youth Court on Monday.

Magistrate David White heard the taxi driver went to Evanston Gardens around 2.30am on Saturday morning to pick up a fare.

He collected three youths and drove them to Gawler, where they asked him to pull over on Twelfth Ave.

Taxi driver Jaspreet was left with these facial injuries after being attacked with a bottle by a group of teenagers on the weekend. Picture: 13cabs

The fare was $15 and as the driver reached over to get change for a $20 note, the teenage male – who was sitting in front seat – allegedly started hitting him with an empty bottle of Jack Daniels.

The driver said he was also punched to the back of the head by one of the girls sitting in the back seat.

The 20-year-old driver was dragged from his vehicle, suffering suspected facial fractures, and the thieves fled in his taxi.

The vehicle was tracked by police east through Waikerie and into Berri, where it was abandoned among an orchard.

When police arrived they heard voices nearby and a dog patrol located the three teenagers only a short distance from the vehicle.

Each was charged with theft and serious assault, as well as illegally using a motor vehicle.

The court heard security camera footage from within the taxi linked the three youths to the crime.

The 15-year-old who had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting her schoolmate did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody.

In a bail application for the other girl, the court heard that she was on a suspended sentence obligation for assault, serious criminal trespass and misusing a motor vehicle.

The prosecutor said the teenager had already had two suspended sentences this year and had pleaded guilty to 14 offences in the last three and a half years.

Mr White agreed to order a home detention report for the girl, saying he wanted to know more about her history before making a decision.

The 15-year-old boy also did not apply for bail but the Youth Court heard that he had breached a suspended sentence obligation and had recently cut off a curfew monitoring bracelet.

He was also remanded in custody.