Alleged Tewantin teen torture case: Girl, 12, makes bid for bail

A 12-year-old girl allegedly linked to the Tewantin teen torture case will remain behind bars until the new year after her bid for freedom hit another delay.

A 12-year-old girl allegedly involved in an hours-long torture of another teenage girl inside a Tewantin home in March has made a bid for freedom from detention as her case progresses.

A 12-year-old girl allegedly involved in an hours-long torture of another teenage girl at a Tewantin home in March will have to wait until the new year to find out if she will be released from detention on bail.

The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, applied for bail in the Maroochydore Children’s Court on December 14; but the matter was adjourned for a third time on December 20.

She faces multiple charges including deprivation of liberty, assault occasioning bodily harm, assault occasioning bodily harm while armed in company, deprivation of liberty, armed robbery while in company used personal violence, enter dwelling and commit indictable offence, common assault and unauthorised dealing with shop goods. She has not entered a plea.

She is alleged to have “lured” a teenager to a Tewantin home in March, where she was allegedly tortured by the 12-year-old and two other girls for several hours.

The Maroochydore Children’s Court was told on December 15 there was video footage of the 12-year-old allegedly participating in the torture.

She has spent more than 112 days in detention over two separate stints, the court was told.

Crown prosecutor Sanaz Masoumi said the crown opposed bail and that the young girl did not have the home support to comply with bail conditions.

She told the court there were concerns about how the young girl expressed herself and regulated her emotions.

“She expressed that she carries knives out in the community and made comments to the effect of killing people if she was confronted,” Ms Masoumi said.

She said the girl had continued to use acid and marijuana while on bail, which had been supplied to her by her friends, and had continued to commit crimes and not complied with curfew orders.

The court was told she had not been home during 30 police curfew checks between August and October. Her mother would tell police she was not home.

At one point, the girl was found in Brisbane at 3.30am and picked up by police, she told the court.

Mr Bull countered said that between May and August his client complied with her bail and was doing well.

Mr Bull said it was proposed his client, who had spent 112 days in detention over two separate stints, would live with her mother and older brother if released on bail.

His client had recently been diagnosed with Autism and low intellect, and hoped she would be placed on the NDIS.

Mr Bull proposed bail conditions which would allow his client to get to and from school without the accompaniment of an adult.

On Friday, December 15, Judge Gary Long adjourned the matter to Wednesday, December 20, for a decision on the bail application. It was then adjourned to January 23, 2024.

The girl was remanded in custody.