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Alleged vigilante facing murder charge over the death of Jennifer Board
By Matt Dennien
A 25-year-old man who was allegedly behind the wheel of a car that chased and rammed a stolen vehicle, before losing control and killing 22-year-old Jennifer Board, has been charged with murder.
A group of three allegedly followed the Hyundai “aggressively” through Townsville’s streets on Friday night before hitting it from behind and crossing the median strip to collide head-on with Ms Board, who was on a motorcycle and died at the scene.
It comes as the Palaszczuk government is set to announce changes to the youth justice system in the wake of a series of other high-profile incidents involving juveniles in the past two weeks.
The Bushland Beach man has been charged with one count of murder and will appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Two 18-year-old men arrested on Monday, and accused of travelling in the stolen Hyundai, will also appear before the court on vehicle and property charges.
Jennifer Board, 22, was killed while riding her motorcycle in Townsville on Friday night.Credit: Facebook
A 17-year-old also alleged to be in the stolen car was charged with five counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of stealing on Sunday.
Another passenger is still at large.
Police have issued a plea to vigilantes who think they are contributing to community safety by taking the law into their own hands.
“If you undertake this behaviour and you commit criminal offences, you will be investigated like any other criminal in our community,” Northern Police Region Assistant Commissioner Brett Schafferius told reporters on Monday.
“If the evidence exists, you will be charged just like any other criminal in our community and you will be put before the court.”
Mr Schafferius had also announced a new taskforce to tackle crime in the region, including six officers from the Brisbane-based crime and intel command to focus “solely” on high-visibility policing in key areas and the targeting of a small cohort of about 10 per cent of offenders in the region who repeatedly break the law.
The state’s youth justice system has been in the spotlight after Matt Field, Kate Leadbetter and their unborn son Miles were killed by an allegedly intoxicated 17-year-old driver in a stolen car on Australia Day.
Queensland’s police union and LNP opposition have been behind continued calls for changes since, including GPS tracking for young repeat offenders and the return of breach of bail as an offence.
Ms Palaszczuk is expected to announce a further taskforce on Tuesday as part of the government’s response. The group will be headed by Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon, who was appointed to the state’s security and counter terrorism command in February last year.
Tracking bracelets will be introduced for repeat and serious offenders on remand, along with changes making it harder for them to get bail.
- with Lydia Lynch