Teen sentenced over Kippa Ring machete attack appeals

A teenager sentenced to five years detention over a machete attack on a cyclist north of Brisbane has appealed, his lawyer saying their was a ‘deep-seated context’ to his behaviour.

A decision on the teenager’s appeal has been reserved. File picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

A teenager sentenced to five years detention over a machete attack north of Brisbane has appealed.

The then 17-year-old was convicted of malicious acts with intent over the attack in March 2024 at Kippa-Ring.

The youth had attacked a member of the public who was riding his bicycle to the train station.

He was sentenced to five years detention with a requirement to serve 60 per cent.

The teenager, who can’t be identified, appealed the sentence in Queensland’s Court of Appeal on Monday in Brisbane on the basis it was manifestly excessive.

His barrister Kylie Hillard described the child’s prejudicial upbringing and mental health issues including complex PTSD.

“He’s a child … with what could probably be described as the most horrific domestic and family violence background and exposure to different types of trauma in his upbringing, including his mother becoming (disabled) as result of extreme violence,” she said.

“He’s not in the same category of a young person just walking around, running around, carrying weapons just for the sake of it, there is a deep seated context, to him doing so.

However appeal judge Justice David Boddice raised the child’s criminal history including a charge of grievous bodily harm from 2023.

“That offence is … particularly serious, because it left an innocent member of the community with life threatening injuries,” he said.

Ms Hillard said the sentencing judge did not give proper regard to her client’s trauma symptoms, untreated needs or rehabilitation prospects.

Justices Boddice, Sue Brown and Lincoln Crowley reserved their decision.