Teenager who allegedly attacked sleeping 19-year-old in Brisbane gets bail

A teenager who allegedly attacked a 17-year-old in Brisbane, leaving him on life support with brain hypoxia, has been granted bail with strict conditions including that he must wear a tracking bracelet.

Mr Sheriff attended a bail application hearing via video link at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.Credit: Jocelyn Garcia

Lasender Sheriff, 18, and nine others were charged with attempted murder over the alleged attack in Milton in August.

Mr Sheriff was also charged with grievous bodily harm.

The victim was allegedly set upon while he was sleeping in a bedroom at an inner-city apartment block on Railway Terrace.

He remains in a coma with head injuries.

On Wednesday Mr Sheriff attended a bail application hearing via video link at Brisbane Magistrates Court, with family members and supporters in the courtroom.

Acting magistrate Rowan Silva said the charges of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm were “extremely serious”.

He said the victim was left unconscious and bleeding, with severe facial injuries and bruising.

“[The objection to bail affidavit] goes on to say he is currently on life support in the intensive care ward and is believed to have suffered from brain hypoxia due to the severe assault,” he said.

Mr Silva said a witness had identified Mr Sheriff at the scene.

“... She identified the defendant from a still shot from CCTV footage in the lift with a distinctive hairstyle and the associated statement that police service body camera footage was taken in Fortitude Valley, and it showed the defendant to be wearing the same clothing as depicted in the CCTV footage of the offence location,” he said.

Mr Silva said it was unclear whether Mr Sheriff used “an offensive weapon” during the attack.

The magistrate told the court “the objection to bail affidavit refers to the attendance of 12 males in two vehicles prior to the offence that took place in the apartment”.

“But it does not make any specific reference to the actions of this defendant whilst in the apartment.

“... after the assault, there were some members of the group of males who assaulted the victim once more, and it is not clear whether the defendant was a member of that group or not, so I cannot make any relevant finding in that regard.”

He said he believed Mr Sheriff, who was in high school, had a “supportive home environment” for bail.

“Members of his family have attended yesterday and have attended today, and it is my understanding that the prosecution has made inquiries of the proposed address and that home has been deemed a suitable address for the defendant,” he said.

Lasender Sheriff’s family and supporters attended Brisbane Magistrates Court during his two-day bail application hearing.Credit: Toby Crockford

Mr Silva said he was satisfied that with strict bail conditions Mr Sheriff would not commit further offences.

Mr Sheriff was given a list of conditions, including following a curfew, reporting to police three times a week and to not contact any co-offenders.

After a discussion in court about Mr Sheriff reportedly being associated with the Southside Drillas, a group of youths, Mr Silva also included a bail condition that Mr Sheriff was unable to contact anyone police considered to be members of the Southside Drillas.

His matter was adjourned at Brisbane Magistrates Court for a committal callover on Monday, September 20.