Bats and blades: Mammoth murder trial for Zillmere brawl

A dozen defendants have pleaded not guilty as a mammoth murder trial in a specially-modified courtroom begins more than four years after a mass suburban park brawl allegedly claimed a life.

Girum Mekonnen lost his life in the alleged brawl.

A dozen defendants facing a mammoth murder trial got their first glimpse of the specially-modified courtroom that will be their home for at least the next five weeks, as the trial stemming from a mass brawl in a suburban park more than four years ago finally began.

Girum Mekonnen, 19, was allegedly murdered in O’Callaghan Park – home to North Star Football Club and the local PCYC – in Zillmere in Brisbane’s north on September 13, 2020.

The charge details read in court on Monday also named a further 10 people who the Crown alleges were victims of assaults during the same brawl about 5:30pm on that fateful day.

The trial for 12 accused began with a jury selected and empaneled on Monday, ahead of anticipated opening arguments beginning on Tuesday.

Girum Mekonnen was killed in a violent clash in Zillmere. Picture: Facebook

Each of the dozen defendants currently on trial are charged with one count of murder, nine counts of malicious acts with intent, as well as one count of assault occasioning bodily harm whilst armed and in company.

They are Alex Edward Deng, 22, Ben Abio, 23, Majok Riel Majok, 23, Yohana Wal Wal, 23, Malat Akoi Makuach, 25, Juma Makuol Deng Makuol, 27, Chan Kuchmol Kon, 28, Joseph Lokolong, 28, Kresto Wal Wal, 28, Abraham Ajang Yaak, 30, Gabreal Wal Wal, 31, and Santo Wal, 36.

Police at the scene of a Zillmere Gang fight. Pic: Peter Wallis

On Monday, each defendant formally pleaded not guilty to all 11 charges against them.

The dozen defendants have had a courtroom within the Brisbane Supreme Court building specially refurbished to incorporate 12 secure docks for each of the accused, and extra bar tables installed for the barristers and solicitors representing them.

Girum Mekonnen.

Girum Mekonnen. Picture: Facebook

The rows of public gallery seating in the courtroom were sacrificed to create space, but the trial was live streamed into separate rooms within the Supreme Court building on Monday to accommodate the families of those involved, the general public, and media representatives.

The trial heard that weapons such as bats and blades were allegedly used in the incident.

The trial will hear from dozens of witnesses over the coming weeks – the majority are police officers, but there will also be paramedics, doctors, medical experts, and civilian witnesses.

The jury – 12 primary jurors and 3 reserve jurors – will take an excursion mid-trial to O’Callaghan Park to see the area where the incident occurred.

Justice Lincoln Crowley will preside over the trial – he was the first Indigenous person to be appointed Queen’s Counsel in Queensland in 2018, before becoming the first Indigenous person to be appointed as a Supreme Court judge in Australia in 2022.