Accused teen joy-rider appeals conviction for armed robbery in company with violence where he brandished a tree branch

A juvenile who has spent 11 months in detention while waiting for an appeal against a recorded conviction to be decided, and to be sentenced on 30-odd fresh charges, has made a bail application in the district court. Find out if he was released in the community.

A juvenile who has spent 11 months in detention while waiting for an appeal against a recorded conviction to be decided, and to be sentenced on 30-odd fresh charges, has made a bail application in the district court.

The teen, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was granted bail by Judge Jeff Clarke last week who said the child had spent “a considerable amount of time” in detention.

He said the alleged offending showed periods where the teen, 16, would be released from custody only to go on and reoffend, including joy-riding stolen cars.

Judge Clarke said the juvenile even committed offences while in custody, allegedly spitting in someone’s face while in detention in July 2021.

The teen has accumulated an eight-page child criminal record, including a conviction on an armed robbery while in company and with violence offence when he was sentenced in September 2020.

Along with the armed robbery offence, the juvenile pleaded guilty to offences which took place over a 16-month period including entering a Park Avenue dwelling in and stealing jewellery, phone and keys; along with breaking and entering a Duaringa business and stealing alcohol; plus two unlicensed driving offences and one of possessing a drug utensil.

At the 2020 sentencing, Crown prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke said a month after this juvenile was sentenced by Judge Ian Dearden in May 2019 for similar offending, the juvenile committed the armed robbery.

“He was one of a number of juveniles involved and his involvement can really be described as entering the store armed to assist the robbery that was taking place,” she said.

“He himself did not injure either of the complainants, but rather brandished the tree branch.”

The court heard an appeal hearing about the conviction recorded for the armed robbery offence took place in November 2021 with the Court of Appeal reserving its decision.

The juvenile was bailed with conditions, to live with an aunt in Koongal.

His matters were adjourned until February 17.