Nine youths sentenced over brutal bashings at Milton and West End

A judge has characterised a video played in court the worst violence he has ever seen in his 18 years in his role, as nine youths were sentenced over a pair of brutal bashings in inner Brisbane.

Judge Ian Dearden

A judge has characterised a video played in court “the worst violence” he has ever seen in his 18 years in his role as nine youths were sentenced over a pair of brutal bashings in inner Brisbane.

Nine members of the Southside Drillaz aged 15 to 17 at the time fronted Children’s District Court on Thursday over two bashings at Milton and West End in August 2021.

The group had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, malicious act with intent and contravening order about device information from digital device.

“Twenty-eighth of February I will have been doing this job as a judge for 18 years, in that time I have sentenced quite literally thousands defendants, in all of that time I am extraordinarily grateful I have not seen something that has appalled and distressed me as much as today,” Judge Ian Dearden said.

“Today is one of those truly disturbing, challenging and painful experiences for any judge to sit through.

“As the video was played I could hear audible gasps and expressions of horror and distress from the gallery.”

Judge Dearden said the affiliation seemed to be with a rival gang that they had competition with.

On August 28, 2021, the group attended a party at a West End apartment complex that a young girl had rented for her birthday.

Judge Dearden said some of the females affiliated with the group had been invited but upon arrival they were asked to leave and didn’t but instead began punching a 17-year-old boy.

“Witnesses estimate he was punched between 50 to 100 times and kicked at least 50 times during a five to seven minutes,” he said.

The group fled and the ambulance arrived nine minutes after the incident. The victim suffered swelling redness bruising to his face and scalp, including lips and red eye, he has numerous missing teeth and large lip lacerations.

On the same night the group left and went to another apartment in Milton that had been rented be young girl who was using it as a semi formal afterparty.

“You all scattered through the apartment and went to the room where he had been sleeping, he was completely defenceless and faced by a group of 12 people,” he said.

Judge Dearden said two teens began stomping on his head before the rest of the group was called in.

“He was screaming in pain before he lost consciousness,” he said.

The incident was recorded on video and people can be heard saying “we’re gonna kill you”, we’re gonna light shit up and “This dead n****”.

The assault took five minutes but left the victim with permanent brain damage. He required a breathing tube for nine days, he was hospitalised for two months and left with permanent injury, the court heard.

Majority of the defendants had been in pre-custody for around 500 days.

Judge Dearden said throughout that time he was impressed with their progress.

“I have to say most if not all responded remarkably well to detention and they’ve used the opportunity to do some very good things and also done good work inside as well as preparing for outside,” he said.

“It seems to me every single one of you has taken advantage of every opportunity that has been offered to undertake courses, certificates, he said.

Taking that into consideration Judge Dearden gave each of them sentences varying from two to five years detention and the children able to be released after 50 per cent, convictions were not recorded.

“I am ultimately of the view, convictions should not be reported, I want you to take the opportunity to go into your adult lives without convictions,” he said.