Logan soccer player Sila Van Boi Laithang, 22, walks free after gang stabbing

An aspiring Logan soccer player who was part of a group which stabbed a 17-year-old in an unprovoked attack has walked free from court.

Sila Van Boi Laithang leaving Beenleigh District Court

An aspiring Logan soccer player who was part of a three-person gang which stabbed a 17-year-old in an unprovoked attack has walked free from court.

Marsden’s Silas Van Boi Laithang, 22, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court on February 2 to unlawful wounding.

The court heard that on August 26, 2021 in Logan Central, Laithang and two other co-offenders confronted the 17-year-old boy and forced him down an alleyway.

They said to the victim “what the f*** are you looking at” and then made the teen count to three before one of them stabbed him in the thigh, the court heard.

They then made him count to three again and one of the offenders stabbed him above the knee before punching him four times in the head, forcing his head to hit the wall.

The victim called for an ambulance and was taken to hospital with three puncture wounds which needed stitches.

A statement of facts, agreed upon in the court, said it was unclear which of the three co-accused stabbed the teen. One of the co-accused was sentenced in children’s court and the other remains unknown.

Laithang was also found in possession of a razor blade.

Laithang emigrated from Myanmar (Burma) as a refugee and attended Marsden High School on a soccer scholarship, the court heard.

He told the court his offending had “brought a great deal of shame on my family”.

The prosecution said the offending was serious as it was a “gratuitous, unprovoked’’ attack on the 17-year-old.

Judge Craig Chowdhury said Laithang formed a gang of three who menaced the victim for no reason.

“He was party to the deliberate, intentional infliction to the victim. This is just straight out gratuitous street violence,” he said.

“The infliction of the stab wound was done with cruelty.”

Laithang was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and ordered to pay $300 in compensation to the victim.

A conviction was recorded.