Teen, 14, refused bail after alleged rock attack on Kuranda train which injured 5yo boy

A teen who was out on bail after allegedly launching stones at cars with a slingshot has made another bid for bail after being charged with fracturing a five-year-old boy’s head with a “tennis ball-sized” rock.

A teen who was out on bail after allegedly launching stones at cars with a slingshot has made another bid for bail after being charged with fracturing a five-year-old boy’s head with a “tennis ball-sized” rock.

The 14-year-old had his application for bail refused in the Cairns Children’s Court on Tuesday as he faces a charge of endangering the safety of a person in a vehicle with intent.

The court heard the teenager was allegedly captured on CCTV with a group of boys collecting stones by the rail line on Saturday and throwing them at carriages as the train passed.

A second 14-year-old boy has also been charged over the incident and is also expected to make an application for bail.

Opposing the bail application, police prosecutor Rosalie Veltjens confirmed the teenager was already on bail for nine other charges including, common assault, enter premises, and wilful damage by graffiti.

“A period of detention is warranted for the offending and he is on bail for nine other offences,” Ms Veltjens said.

Ms Veltjens highlighted a similar allegation which involved the boy using a slingshot to target cars with stones, which resulted in a common assault charge.

“That involved again the use of rocks, throwing and using a slingshot on passing vehicles,” she said.

A train on the Kuranda Scenic Railway line runs through a level crossing on Whitfield St near to where a large rock was thrown at a passenger on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“A person who was waiting at a nearby bus stop has intervened and the boy’s two co-offenders have punched the person multiple times.

“His involvement was he knocked the phone out of the victims hand and stood over the victim once the other two had punched the victim.”

The teenager was also under a probation order at the time of the alleged stone throwing attack, the court heard.

Ms Veltjens told the court the alleged “reckless and careless behaviour” caused a “horrific” injury to a five-year-old victim.

“He has a fractured skull with an internal bleed and is now in the Townsville University Hospital,” she said.

“Not only are the injuries to this victim severe, but the family cannot return to Japan until the child is cleared.”

The teenager’s defence lawyer, Jaci Boughton, told the court no grant of bail was without risk and conceded there was a risk to the community from this type of offending.

Ms Boughton submitted the risks could be ameliorated with a conditional bail program, a curfew, and no contact with the co-accused.

Ms Boughton told the court the teenager denied the accusations relating to the common assault charge.

She acknowledged the community was very upset by what has happened to the “little boy”.

“He has been made aware of the consequences of his actions in carrying on with these kids,” she said

“He has co-operated and made admissions to police and while CCTV captured him at the location there is no indication that the footage shows him throwing stones.

“He has owned up to what he has done.”

Magistrate Sandra Pearson said she needed to take into account the “extremely serious” nature of the charge and noted a period of detention would be well within range if he was found guilty of the charge.

“The case against him is quite strong,” she said

“He has made admissions to being involved in the throwing of rocks at the Kuranda train and the children involved are going to be jointly and separately liable for the injury to the young child.”

Ms Pearson denied the teenager’s bail application and he will be remanded in detention.

Ms Pearson ordered a brief of evidence be produced by November 26.

The boy will return to Childrens Court for a mention of his other charges on November 5.

Originally published as Teen, 14, refused bail after alleged rock attack on Kuranda train which injured 5yo boy