Police charge teen with ‘planning role’ in murder hours before funeral for Lucas Cornu

Seventeen-year-old Lucas Cornu has been farewelled at an emotional funeral service held after a teenager was charged with helping plan his death.

Lucas Cornu, 17, has been remembered as a gifted young footballer and a loyal and loving teenager. Picture: Supplied by his Family.

Police allege a 15 year-old boy played a role in planning the murder of 17-year-old Lucas Cornu before two others carried out the daylight stabbing.

Hours before Lucas Cornu’s loved ones farewelled him at an emotional funeral service yesterday, police swooped on a third 15 year-old at a home in Rouse Hill, taking him to Riverstone Police Station and charging him with murder on Tuesday night.

The funeral service for 17-year-old Lucas Cornu, who died after being stabbed in the leg at Rouse Hill. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Police will allege the boy helped plan the attack alongside two other 15-year-olds who were at Bruce Purser Reserve in Rouse Hill on the afternoon of November 24, when Lucas was stabbed in the leg during a confrontation metres from a local school.

The pair were charged with murder in the weeks after the stabbing and remain before the courts.

But according to police sources, the third 15 year-old was not present at the scene of the stabbing.

Rouse hill stabbing victim Lucas Cornu. Picture: Supplied by his family

It is understood investigators uncovered messages that linked the teen to Lucas’ death and led to the third arrest in their weeks-long investigation.

On Wednesday, the Rouse Hill community gathered to farewell Lucas at an emotional service less than a kilometre from where he was killed.

Bruce Purser Reserve, Rouse Hill Picture: Rohan Kelly.

A photo of the teen beaming at the camera sat outside the service as hundreds of mourners dressed in black packed The Ettamogah at Kellyville Ridge on Wednesday, lining the driveway as friends, family and locals formed a guard of honour.

Several of Lucas’ loved ones were seen reaching out to touch the 17 year-old’s coffin, which was heaped with white, orange and yellow flowers- the colours of his beloved soccer team, the Quakers Hill Tigers.

Leading the hearse from the service were his teammates from the soccer club, which he had just won a championship with in the leadup to his death, who walked ahead of the procession as devastated friends and schoolmates followed.

Mourners lined the driveway as friends, family and members of the local community formed a guard of honour. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Lucas was remembered as a gifted young footballer and a loyal, fun and loving teenager.

In a statement released last month, the teen’s parents said his “radiant smile” could “light up any room.”

“No parent should ever have to bury their child,” they said.

“Violence is never the answer. We hope that Lucas’ death will not be in vain and that young people will come together, support each other, and speak up.

“Forever in our hearts, our beautiful Lucas. Your light will continue to shine through the love and memories you’ve left behind.

“Lucas’s legacy reminds us to support one another, speak up, and choose peace over violence.”

Originally published as Police charge teen with ‘planning role’ in murder hours before funeral for Lucas Cornu