Private school, alleged gang links as teen charged in relation to grandma’s murder faces court

The teenage boys facing charges in relation to the death of a grandmother at an Ipswich shopping centre were private school students, one of whom had alleged gang associations, a court has heard.

A boy has been granted bail after being charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle which police allege is relation to the death of an Ipswich grandmother.

The teenage boys facing charges in relation to the death of a grandmother at an Ipswich shopping centre were private school students, one of whom had alleged gang associations, a court has heard.

The new information comes after one Brisbane magistrate made the decision to open his courtroom to media on Tuesday as he heard a bail application for a 16-year-old boy.

Magistrate Aaron Simpson said he allowed media to report on the teen’s case — linked to the alleged stabbing murder of grandmother Vyleen White at Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre on Saturday — because it was in the boy’s best interests that the public knew he likely played no part in the killing.

Magistrate Aaron Simpson rejected arguments from the boy’s Legal Aid lawyer that it would be prejudicial to the 16-year-old to allow media to report on his bail application Tuesday morning.

Vyleen White. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

Mr Simpson said it was unfortunate, but probably the case, that without an open account of the details of the case many people in the community would assume all five teens charged in connection with Ms White’s death were equally involved.

The boy was in fact only charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

“The principal of open justice applies broadly to all courts but is moderated by the Youth Justice Act such that an offender is not prejudiced in any way,’’ he said.

“I think it must be helpful for the broader community to understand that not all of them (the five co-accused) are charged with more serious offences,’’ he said.

“The community is alarmed — quite reasonably alarmed.

“If you polled the community now, the prevailing mood (likely) is that all five boys murdered that woman.

“It might be reassuring for the community to know that this boy has nothing to do with it. He was a passenger (in a car).

“I think it would lead to greater confidence in the judicial system to have that reported.’’

The boy’s solicitor argued that five sections of the Youth Justice Act applied in this case which, taken together, meant it would be prejudicial to her client if the media reported on his case.

Police at the scene where Vyleen White, 70, of Redbank Plains, died. Picture: Glenn Campbell

She said he also might be able to be identified by reporting.

However, Mr Simpson said that so far no reports had revealed the boy’s name, address, school, or other details likely to identify him.

CCTV released by police was not clear enough to identify him to the general public.

Mr Simpson said he closely viewed the CCTV to see if those depicted were known to him, but he could not recognise anyone.

He concluded that it would in fact be prejudicial to the boy’s interests not to allow media reporting, if only to reveal police evidence that he was only a passenger in the woman’s car.

However, Mr Simpson asked media present in his court to give an undertaking no comments would be allowed on any reports they published.

Police Prosecutor Tom Wirawan confirmed to the court that, at this stage, there was nothing to suggest the boy did anything more than get into the back seat of Ms White’s Hyundai Getz.

The court heard police would allege that, after she was stabbed in front of her six-year-old granddaughter at Redbank Town Square, her keys were taken and her car driven to a nearby McDonald’s.

A car police say is of interest in the case of death of Vyleen White.

But Snr-Constable Wirawan said police opposed bail because they believed the boy’s release posed an unacceptable risk to public safety and there was an unacceptable risk of reoffending in general.

He said there was also a risk of interfering with witnesses, as there were suggestions that after the boy was arrested at his school he was concerned with finding out who had “snitched’’ on him.

Snr-Constable Wirawan said one aggravating feature was a suggestion the boy had associations with the Swish Bound Gorillas gang, believed to be behind a number of violent offences.

Mr Simpson granted bail, saying all police could show at this stage was that the boy was recognised by the occupants of the car at the fast food restaurant and told to get in.

“What seems to be certain is Ms White is dead. There’s no information that (the boy) knew that at all,’’ Mr Simpson said.

“There’s nothing here to indicate he knew what happened to Ms White or even how her vehicle was got.’’

Richlands Magistrates Court. Picture: Supplied

Mr Simpson said the boy was from a loving family and supported in court by his mother and sister.

He attended a private school and had no criminal history in Queensland.

Mr Simpson said it was therefore in the best interests of the boy and of the public that he be released on bail, but kept occupied.

He ordered the boy return to school, on condition he keep away from his co-accused who attended the same school.

If he was expelled he must inform Youth Justice officials immediately and undertake any program they recommended.

He also must live with his mother, abide by an overnight curfew, report to police once a week and not visit Redbank Town Square or the nearby McDonald’s.

He was also warned to hand over his mobile phone passcode to police and not make any attempt outside school to contact his co-accused, in person or on social media or via text, email or phone.

The boy was scheduled to reappear for mention in Richlands Magistrates Court on February 29.