Qld youth crime: Everything you need to know about victims, crimes and what happens next

Youth crime remains one of Queensland’s biggest challenges. This is how the crisis has unfolded an what happens next. SPECIAL REPORT

Matty Field, Kate Leadbetter, Jennifer Board, Michael Warburton, David George Connolly, Emma Lovell, Scott Cabrie.

The tragic roll call of Queenslanders who died allegedly at the hands of youth offenders makes for uneasy reading. And these are just some of the more recent cases.

The state’s bid to tackle youth crime has been a stop-start affair, one bogged down by both paperwork and politics.

While youth crime is nothing new - the deaths of three innocent women in an accident allegedly caused by a 13-year-old in April 2023 added to the pain - the path to curbing it has been a winding affair in recent years.

In August 2023 new figures exposed how the key metrics experts said would lead to a reduction in youth crime are actually getting worse, despite the state government’s pledge to crack down on the scourge.

All your questions are answered >>>

What happened to Matty Field, Kate Leadbetter, Jennifer Board, Michael Warburton, David George Connolly, Scott Cabrie and Emma Lovell?

■ In February 2021 aspiring police officer Jennifer Board, 22, was hit and killed as an alleged vigilante chased a stolen car being driven by youths.

It is alleged a Townsville teenager was driving a stolen car when it was rammed by a vehicle driven by a 25-year-old Facebook vigilante.

Jennifer Board was killed while riding her motorbike.

■ On Australia Day 2021 a drunken, drug-addled 17-year old ploughed into Field and Leadbetter in a stolen car as they waited on a median strip while walking their dogs at Alexandra Hills, southeast of Brisbane.

Killed instantly were Mr Field, 37, his pregnant partner Ms Leadbetter, 31, and their unborn son.

The teen who committed the “particularly heinous’’ crime was sentenced to 10 years jail, and with time served will be out on Australia Day, 2027.

■ Michael Warburton, 59, from Hemmant was riding his Vespa scooter home in September 2022 when a stolen car, allegedly driven by a 15-year-old Wynnum teen, crossed to the wrong side of the road and mowed him down in Wynnum West.

The boy, 15, and a girl, 16, allegedly ran from the car, leaving Mr Warburton on the ground with critical injuries.

He was rushed to the PA Hospital, but died later that night from his injuries.

Michael Warburton, who was killed in an alleged hit and run at Wynnum West in September 2022.

■ Emma Lovell, 41, was allegedly stabbed in the chest while fighting off intruders in her home on Boxing Day 2022.

Mrs Lovell’s husband, Lee, 43, was also stabbed in the back during the home invasion on Whitfield Crescent, before the teens fled the property.

Two youths from Brisbane were each charged with murder, attempted murder and enter dwelling with intent in company after the death mother-of-two Lovell at her North Lakes home.

■ David George Connolly, 43, in January 2023 was stabbed to death less than a kilometre from his home in the up-market inner-Brisbane suburb of Wilston.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham confirmed Mr Connolly was found “collapsed” in the early hours on Newmarket Rd. He was found with critical injuries and died at the scene.

A Burpengary boy, 17, was charged with murder and has since had his case briefly mentioned in Brisbane Childrens Court.

■ Robert William Brown died in February 2023 as result of injuries he suffered in a sickening alleged broad daylight robbery in the heart of Toowoomba’s CBD.

The 75-year-old was waiting for a cab at the Margaret St taxi rank about 5.10pm on February 6 when he was allegedly pushed from behind, falling on the road and suffering a critical head injury.

Mr Brown was rushed to Toowoomba Hospital where remained on life support for a week.

An 18-year-old man was charged with one count each of grievous bodily harm, robbery using personal violence, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and enter dwelling and commit.

Police charged a further four young offenders in relation to this matter, two with grievous bodily harm.

Photographer Robert Brown died a week after his alleged attack. Picture: Nev Madsen

■ Hervey Bay Uber driver Scott Cabrie was in February 2023 allegedly killed by two teens, who have since been charged with his murder.

After going missing, Cabrie’s body was found near a boat ramp in Howard.

Police will allege he was killed when an armed robbery escalated.

Hervey Bay Uber driver Scott Cabrie died in February 2023.

■ Three innocent women were killed in April 2023 when they were involved in a crash with a 13-year-old who was allegedly driving a stolen vehicle in Maryborough.

Sheree Robertson, 52, a nurse from Maryborough Hospital, former Riverside Christian College student Kelsie Davies, 17, and Reach Church pastor Michale Chandler, 29, died in the crash on Saltwater Creek Rd.

The parents of a teenage boy charged over the fatal crash were heckled and abused by a bystander as they left the courthouse in the days after the incident.

■ In February 2024 five teenage boys were arrested and charged in relation to the death of a South East Queensland grandmother during an alleged carjacking.

Vyleen White was fatally stabbed to death in front of onlookers during a carjacking at Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre.

■ Two years of fear: The victims of Qld’s youth crime crisis

IS YOUTH CRIME ON THE RISE IN QUEENSLAND?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Recorded Crime data in December 2023 showed the number of young criminals in Queensland has increased 6 per cent to 10,878 offenders in the past year.

Rates of youth crime – accounting for population growth – also showed the offender rate increased from 1863 offenders per 100,000 people to 1925 in the same time.

The number of juvenile Serious Repeat Offenders in Queensland also increased from 465 in December 2022 to 482 now.

In April 2024 the state’s youth crime epidemic was laid bare in a new report revealing the number of young criminals in Queensland jumped 5.2 per cent to 11,191 offenders, with 11 of those charged with murder.

In January 2023 new data showed more than half of Queensland youths sentenced to detention or probation are back before court within 12 months, with the state having the highest rate of youth reoffending in the country.

The Productivity Commission data showed 56.8 per cent of Queensland juveniles aged 10-17 who were sentenced either to detention, probation, bail or parole were back before a courtroom within a year, as of 2019-20.

In December 2022 new figures revealed juveniles were increasingly terrorising streets across Wide Bay Burnett regions.

Meanwhile the Far North experienced the worst growth in crime compared to any other area of Queensland, confirming many residents’ fears the youth crime crisis is the worst it’s ever been.

Toowomba’s youth crime issues were laid bare in February 2023, while other regions reported similar spikes in cases.

In Mt Isa it was revealed that while police know of about 30 young offenders, they are largely unable to do anything to stop the crimes.

WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT YOUTH CRIME?

An online portal for submissions on how to best tackle the crisis was set up in December 2022 by then Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

But the LNP and a number of key stakeholders, including the Queensland Law Society and PeakCare Queensland, expressed their concern over the website as the main vehicle of consultation on the upcoming changes to the Youth Justice Act.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli repeatedly called for the release of the legislation ahead of it being presented to parliament, and said “every Queenslander deserves a say”.

“Good governments consult and listen. This government does neither,” he said.

Attorney-General spokesman Tim Nicholls also accused the government of losing control of youth offenders.

In January 2023 LNP senator for Queensland Matt Canavan argued the August 2019 change to the Youth Justice Act has played a part in the rise of youth crime.

Matty Field and Kate Leadbetter were killed by an out-of-control car when walking their dog at Alexandra Hills.

Ms Lovell’s husband Lee had previously backed the ­proposal.

On February 25, 2023 the premier announced the use of GPS trackers on young offenders will be expanded despite a report quietly released revealing a 16-month trial of the measure couldn’t establish if it worked.

The same day senior Queensland government officials were dispatched to Mount Isa and the premier confirmed she was in talks with her Northern Territory counterpart amid an influx of people coming across the border to access alcohol.

On February 27, 2023 Queensland’s lawyers claimed the central elements the government’s much-vaunted youth justice laws would not have “any significant effect” on crime rates.

In March 2023 Queensland’s top prosecutor said the community had reached a point where it expected the courts to take a different approach in its sentencing of hard-core juvenile offenders.

In April 2023 the state government was exposed scrambling to draft policy on the run less than fifteen minutes before Premier Palaszczuk launched her flagship 10-point youth justice plan.

In February 2024 Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll outlined her plans to tackle youth crime.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO YOUTH CRIME?

A Queensland grandmother whose petition to overhaul youth crime laws reached almost 150,000 signatures in February 2023 slammed the state government as “arrogant” and “out of touch” over a lack of consultation.

Julie West launched a petition calling on the government to create “Emma’s Law” – which would include mandatory minimum sentences for serious violent crimes – in the wake of the ­alleged murder of mum-of-two Lovell on Boxing Day 2022.

But with the Palaszczuk government set to introduce new youth crime laws as soon as late February, Ms West said she was angry that no one from the government had “picked up the phone” to ­discuss the views of thousands of Queenslanders.

“We have had close to 150,000 signatures – I would have thought sitting down with people who have been through this ­experience would have been a minimum courtesy,” she said.

The petition also called for the age of youth offenders to be reduced back to 16 and under, breach of bail reintroduced, and for repeat violent offenders to be denied bail.

Among the more than 7000 comments on the petition were hundreds of Queenslanders describing their own experiences of violent home invasions, with many urging the state government to take a harder line.

In March 2023 four teenagers – Sienna, Harry, Jess, and Tyler – spoke of how they would either be locked up or dead if they weren’t saved by Project Booyah.

HOW ARE PARENTS DEALING WITH YOUTH CRIMINALS?

Frustrated Queensland parents in January 2023 slammed a legal “loophole” which inhibits how they deal with their criminal children.

The Child Protection Act 1999 states that a child has the right to be protected from harm or risk of harm and that a child’s family has the primary responsibility for the child’s upbringing, protection and development.

But the parents of juvenile offenders claimed these rights are undermined when a child reaches the age of 12 and their wishes are “considered” by the courts.

An Ellen Grove mother said she had been forced to file missing person reports on her car-stealing son just so she is “guaranteed” a welfare check.

The mother said there is a “loophole” in the youth justice system when a child is between the ages of 12 and 18.

A Nudgee father-of-seven also said he felt completely powerless as his 13-year-old son has faced court multiple times for robbery-related offences.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT YOUTH CRIME

The problem is clear. The solutions, though, are not as obvious.

Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall in February 2023 criticised the government for “resorting to quick-fix political solutions”.

Meanwhile in December 2022 Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said the spate of youth crime throughout the state meant the government and police needed to go “back to the drawing board” the address the issue with greater transparency.

“There’s a lack of good governance around this … there needs to be a much deeper look at youth justice, with transparency,” he said.

Griffith University criminologist Ross Homel in January 2023 said the impact of rising cost of living was more concentrated among the disadvantaged, exacerbating the factors such as neglect, violence and poverty that pushed children into the justice system.

Griffith University Innocence Project director Robyn Blewer said in January 2023 the youth crime crisis is not something the “government can just throw money at”.

“The focus should be on growing our children into responsible adults who contribute to a decent, better society,” Dr Blewer said.

The minimum age of criminal responsibility in Queensland is 10 years old but Dr Blewer said “locking more children up or locking them up for longer is not necessarily the answer”.

■ Dear Premier: Enough is Enough on Qld youth crime crisis

WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT YOUTH CRIME

couriermail.com.au readers have clearly had enough.

In the wake of the ongoing issue, readers expressed their views over the apparent failings of the government when it comes to tackling the scourge.

Here are some of the comments >>>

Dianne: “qld labor all over the place no idea never had.”

Victoria: “I can’t believe I am saying this...............but I actually agree with Miles. LOL”

STEPHEN: “community safety has NEVER been this governments priority.”

Foul Quince: “Meanwhile, the people keep dying at the hands of these young thugs.”

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Then Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced in December 2022 that Queensland’s youth crime laws will be among some of the toughest in Australia.

The Youth Justice Act will be amended to mandate that courts take into account previous bail history, criminal history and track record when sentencing youth offenders.

The Premier has since insisted her “strong” legislation was being drafted and would be ready when MPs sit again on February 21.

The maximum penalty for stealing a car will increase from seven to 10 years’ imprisonment, while a more severe penalty of 14 years’ jail will be introduced for offences committed at night.

Ms Palaszczuk also announced increased penalties for criminals who “boast” about crimes on social media along with $9.8 million of funding to “fast track sentencing”.

“These are tough measures, they will be put in place,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

The state government has also vowed to build two new youth detention centres, and will trial engine immobilisers in Mt Isa, Cairns and Townsville.

The government confirmed the increased penalties will apply to youth offenders as well.

Bond University criminologist and former police detective Dr Terry Goldsworthy said the announcement was “better than nothing”.

High-profile solicitor Bill Potts said the government was “not only renumbering, but also renaming the deck chairs on the Titanic” with its new measures.

Also in December 2022 there were calls to turn a defunct Covid-19 quarantine hub into a centre for repeat juvenile offenders.

Jim Keogh, who was tasked with heading the war on bikies after a series of high-profile crimes on the Glitter Strip, said the Wellcamp hub could be converted to accommodate repeat juvenile offenders who could contribute to society by helping to counter worker shortages on farms in the countryside around Toowoomba.

“This hasn’t just crept up overnight – it has been escalating for years because there simply isn’t enough of a deterrent,” he said.