Teen accused of assault occasioning bodily harm after street attack

A young man accused of assaulting a child in a Central Queensland street has also been charged over a burglary from 2014, after his DNA linked him to the crime.

A young man accused of assaulting a child in a Central Queensland street and kicking them in the back while they were curled up on the ground, has also been charged over a burglary from 2014.

The 18 year old made a bail application in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on October 31 after being charged with assault occasioning bodily harm while armed/ in company/ while intoxicated and burglary.

The teenager is accused of walking up behind the child victim, who was walking with another child at the time, accusing her of infidelity and punching her three times in the head.

The alleged victim ended up on the ground, curled up in a ball and the defendant then kicked her in the back.

Defence lawyer Ken Spinaze said his client proposed to live with his grandfather in the same town as the alleged victim.

He said the defendant planned to plead guilty to the charges and already had a long plea sentence set for November 8, which includes five breaches of bail.

Mr Spinaze said his client, who was on a Restorative Justice Order at the time of the assault, was charged with the burglary from seven years ago after his DNA was matched to evidence at the scene.

He said the people his client was with during the burglary broke into the premises by breaking glass, with one of them cutting themselves and bleeding.

“It was only when he turned 18 in June that his DNA was able to be identified because he was an adult,” Mr Spinaze said.

“While he was a child, that process couldn’t occur.”

Magistrate Jason Schubert said he was not satisfied the defendant would comply with bail or not reoffend if he was granted bail.

The defendant was remanded in custody until his long plea sentence.