Opinion: Senseless violence in our suburbs cannot be allowed to continue

The kind of violence that erupted at a home in Brisbane’s southwest on Sunday, allegedly over an online transaction, has no place in this country. But it just keeps happening, writes Kylie Lang.

The kind of senseless violence that erupted on a Forest Lake property, allegedly over a Facebook Marketplace transaction has no place in this country. But that doesn’t mean it’s a one-off.

We’ve seen far too much of it – and ineffective deterrents to crime by weak magistrates and an all-talk-no-action state government mean we’re likely to witness more.

The fatal stabbing of Emma Lovell in her North Lakes home on December 26 should never have happened.

So too the brutal home invasion involving Toutai Kefu and his family in Coorparoo on August 16, 2021.

These tragedies – which police say all involved knives – have been described as robberies “gone wrong”.

What, in a civilised society, could ever be “right” about them?

Police tape at a home at Forest Lake where a dog was killed and others injured during an alleged home invasion. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Honesty and trust are becoming relics of a forgotten era, replaced by deception and malice as the term common decency becomes an oxymoron.

Cybersecurity experts warn that attacks linked to Facebook’s buy-and-sell website are becoming a “trend”.

I’ve certainly heard horrible stories from friends, but what police say went down in Brisbane’s southwest on Sunday is next level.

Three men allegedly involved in the violent confrontation are facing a slew of charges including serious animal cruelty, threatening violence, attempting to illegally enter premises and wounding.

North Lakes mother Emma Lovell. Picture: Facebook

Rugby great Toutai Kefu. Picture: Tara Croser

Aron Nsengiyumva, 21, from Redbank, Alex Edward Deng, 20, from Darra, and John Wal Wal, 24, from Goodna, have been remanded in custody.

Police allege two men went to the Forest Lake home to buy an e-scooter for $2000, using counterfeit money.

When the seller twigged, a fight broke out and the men left, without the scooter.

Hours later they returned “with reinforcements”, according to Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham.

He said four men scaled a fence, demanded the scooter be handed over, smashed glass doors and allegedly fatally stabbed a dog to force the occupants outside. In the brawl that followed three men aged 33, 30 and 20, were injured. The fate of the alleged assailants had yet to be determined by a court.

The world has long been full of opportunists and fraudsters keen to exploit others.

But the nature of the violence happening now in our suburbs warrants immediate – make that overdue – action if we are to reclaim the decency that once was common.

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