‘No reason to carry a knife’: Bloody death sparks calls to lock up blades

A top cop has aired his frustration at knife crime following the fatal stabbing of a 20-year-old man south of Brisbane, urging parents to help end the “absolute rubbish”.

• Watch: Graphic footage of fatal Valley stabbing

A frustrated top cop has urged parents to have tough conversations with their children about the dangers of carrying knives, following the fatal stabbing of a 20-year-old man south of Brisbane.

Aiden Rhys Bower-Miles was allegedly stabbed in the neck by two teenagers and died during an altercation at Underwood, south of Brisbane, about 1am on Friday.

“It’s got to stop,” South Eastern Regional Crime Coordinator Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith said of carrying knives.

“How many families need to be wrecked because of behaviours of a few?”

Det Supt Smith said in the last financial year there had been 11 knife-related murders in Queensland.

He said there had been a 21 per cent increase of people aged 10 to 21 with action taken against them for carrying knives and more than 3000 charges laid for offences of carrying a knife in public.

Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Glenn Campbell

Det Supt Smith said a message needed to be sent that carrying a knife was “unacceptable and unlawful”.

“They think it’s cool, it’s not cool,” he said.

“It’s not going to be cool sitting in jail or if one of your friends is murdered because you think it’s cool to carry a knife.”

He said just like conversations about drink driving or sex education, parents needed to have the tough talks with their kids about carrying knives.

“We need to do something about it,” he said.

“We need to have that conversation.”

People known to Aiden Rhys Bower-Miles arrive at the Underwood scene. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Glenn Campbell

He said if parents were struggling to address the issue with their kids, there were a number of agencies that could help.

“That conversation could save their lives, it could save the lives of their friends and could prevent them going to jail,” Det Supt Smith said.

“This is not just a policing problem, this is a community problem.

“How many families need to suffer the consequences…

“Let’s make it uncool to carry a knife.”

Det Supt Smith said many kids were under the impression they needed to carry a knife for protection.

He said he believed social media and video gaming had played a role.

“It’s not a game, you don’t respawn and come back,” he said.

Asked about a push to make it more difficult for kids to purchase knives, Det Supt Smith said he was open to anything that could prevent more deaths.

“I think that sort of policy is a matter for government to consider but as you pointed out knives are everywhere,” he said.

“You walk into everyone’s house, there’s kitchen knives.

“To suggest it’s coming from one particular avenue would be wrong, but I’m open to all suggestions as I’m sure most people are.”

The scene of the stabbing death at Underwood. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Glenn Campbell

His comments came after two boys aged just 15 and 16 were accused of randomly stabbing Mr Bower-Miles to death.

Det Supt Smith had earlier slammed the latest tragedy as “absolute rubbish” and a loss of life “for no reason” as the scourge of youth crime continues to menace the state.

“A young person has (allegedly) been murdered over no good reason, absolute rubbish really,” he said.

Police will allege Mr Bower-Miles was coming home from a party with a group of friends when they became involved in a fight with the two teenagers on Fermont St.

Superintendent Smith said the two accused boys were allegedly sitting in a parked Audi at the end of the street “smoking drugs”.

“It would appear there has been a chance meeting and a conflict has arisen,” Supt Smith said. “There was a bit of conflict, verbal conflict … (which) turned into a physical altercation. Just a conflict … who is the tougher group.”

During the altercation, Mr Bower-Miles was allegedly stabbed in the neck.

Supt Smith said the man initially didn’t realise he was injured.

“It would appear no one knew he had been stabbed … he seemed to realise something was wrong and asked his friends to call police and ambulance and collapsed.”

Mr Bower-Miles died at the scene.

The two accused teens allegedly fled in the dark-coloured Audi and took themselves to Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital about 7am on Friday for injuries they also suffered in the fight.

Police tracked them both down late on Friday afternoon, arresting the 16-year-old Logan boy at a Gold Coast shopping centre, where they also found the Audi.

The 15-year-old boy was arrested at a Mount Gravatt East home.

Neither of the accused had a serious offending history.

Supt Smith said he was incredibly frustrated that young people were still carrying knives as weapons.

“We’ve been talking about it for a long time,” he said.

“Had they not had a knife we wouldn’t be here today. There’s no valid reason to carry a knife. I don’t care what anyone says, you don’t carry a knife.”

Mr Bower-Miles was the latest among 16 people killed allegedly by juveniles in two years.

The father of Queensland teen Jack Beasley, who was stabbed on the Gold Coast in 2019 during a random attack, has called on supermarket chains to lock up their knives in cabinets to further restrict access to the weapons.

Brett Beasley said he was disappointed to see these knife incidents happening so frequently.

“That’s absolutely devastating for that poor guy’s family. How many times is this going to happen before something gets done to these kids?” he said. “We know first-hand what that poor fella’s parents are going to go through. It’s absolutely devastating that he’s lost his life for nothing.”

Mr Beasley said items such as spray paint at hardware stores were already locked in cabinets, so knives should also be off the shelves.

“Where are these kids getting these knives? I’d like to call out all the major chains,” he said. “You can just walk in there willy-nilly and you can buy a carving knife.”

The Sunday Mail attempted to buy a knife through a supermarket self-serve checkout, which prompted an age verification check by a staff member before the purchase could be finalised.

The juveniles accused of Mr Bower-Miles’ murder faced court on Saturday.

The Sunday Mail applied to the court to report on the matter but the request was denied “as the court is not in a position to make any proper determination under the Youth Justice Act”.

Police at the Underwood scene. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Glenn Campbell

On the application’s refusal, senior Palaszczuk government minister Yvette D’Ath said it was up to the courts to decide if the media should be granted access to a courtroom.

“As of course we know that when it comes to youth matters generally they’re not open to the court for a range of reasons,” Ms D’Ath said.

“Because if that youth is found to not be found guilty and convicted of that offence, then this could carry with them for the rest of their lives despite not being convicted.”

Ms D’Ath, the former attorney-general and minister for justice, expressed her condolences to the loved ones of Mr Bower-Miles.

“It’s horrific,” she said.

“Knife crime is a problem and I know the QPS (Queensland Police Service) are doing a lot of work ... It is just absolutely tragic.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli on Sunday said “every option is on the table” for his party to address violence stemming from youth crime but admits he is yet to commit to a policy restricting the sale of knives.

He acknowledged issues with the idea given offenders can simply access knives in nearly all kitchens across the state.

“No one is suggesting any reform is going to be easy,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“How many times do you see someone’s CCTV vision where a young person is standing at the door with a knife?

“That sends shivers up your spine.

“There has to be consequences for young people carrying knives, there has to be. And until you do, it’s just going to continue to rip peoples’ lives apart.”