Teens who killed Redcliffe boy Angus Beaumont jailed

The family of a murdered teen claim their son’s killers have mocked and laughed at them, even writing rap songs about the death. It led to explosive scenes outside court.

The teenager killers who murdered 15-year-old Angus Beaumont and high-fived in celebration as they ran from the crime scene will both be back on the streets before their 21st birthdays.

The repeat violent offenders, who cannot be named due to their age, were on Tuesday jailed for the death of the Redcliffe teen, who was stabbed in the heart during an altercation with the pair on March 13, 2020.

Despite extensive criminal histories including for offences of violence and knife crime, neither of the offenders had ever before received custodial sentences, both previously allowed to walk free from court again and again.

Michelle Liddle, mother of murdered teen Angus Beaumont leaving the Supreme Court in Brisbane City on Tuesday, October 242022. Photo: Steve Pohlner

In tense scenes outside court, a supporter of one of the juvenile killers confronted Angus’ grieving parents as they spoke to the media about their disappointment with the sentences.

The man, believed to be the father of one of the offenders, was heard challenging Mr Beaumont to a fight, with police and security forced to intervene to keep him away.

“This is what I mean there is no remorse; I cannot understand how the judge said these people have remorse,” Angus’ mother Michelle Liddle said as the man interrupted.

“They have mocked us, they have laughed about our son’s death, the killers have made up little rap ditties about his death, they do not care.

“There is no remorse. These kids are playing these courts, or these courts are just not taking into (account) the victims’ lives and what we have to now live.”

After the defendant’s supporter was ushered away, Mr Beaumont returned to the media and said: “You can see the intimidation the victims face from criminal friends and families.

“Saying our family needs to watch out because we’re speaking out against criminal behaviour.”

Michelle Liddle and Ben Beaumont outside Brisbane Supreme Court. Picture: Steve Pohlner

In sentencing, Supreme Court Justice Jackson took into account mitigating circumstances for both defendants, including difficult childhoods that featured a young exposure to drugs and violence.

Ms Liddle said the youth justice system was failing.

“Because my son who was healthy and fit and I didn’t smoke or do drugs that plays against us,” she said, referring to the antecedence of the defendants put to the court.

“And all these things they take into account for these boys aren’t excuses to kill someone.

“There’s lots of kids that are in abusive situations that don’t go on to harm others, that try hard to get out of where they’ve come from and do better. You can’t excuse what they did, there’s no remorse.

“It’s got to change, it’s got to change. The youth justice system has to change, this is just so wrong.”

Mr Beaumont said he feared more people would be hurt when the defendants were released.

“And in two and a half years these criminals will be back on our streets doing the same thing as recidivist offenders,” he said.

“They’re going to do it, we know, the police know it, everybody knows it. They’re criminals and they need to be locked up forever.”

Murder victim Angus Beaumont of Redcliffe. Photo supplied.

Justice Jackson said on the night of the murder, the two defendants had purchased cannabis from one of Angus’ friends before they began stalking him, chasing him through Redcliffe with the intention of stealing drugs.

Both defendants had claimed they were chasing the fourth boy because he had “ripped them off” in the drug sale, but Justice Jackson rejected that claim.

While running from the two defendants, the fourth boy crossed paths with his friend Angus.

“Beaumont was already wearing knuckle dusters on his right hand and (the fourth boy) handed him a large hunting-style knife as they crossed,” Justice Jackson said.

“As you approached the footpath crossover, Beaumont confronted you brandishing the hunting knife.

The defendants were both aged 14 at the time. The younger of the two, who is now 16, was found to be the one who inflicted the fatal blow upon Angus.

Murder victim Angus Beaumont of Redcliffe. Photo supplied for Redcliffe Herald

The older of the two boys, now aged 17, was found to have been guilty of murder because he aided or engaged with his co-offender with a common unlawful purpose to rob Angus’ friend.

Justice Jackson said when confronted by Angus, the defendants hesitated for a moment before moving forward to engage him.

The older of the two defendants moved toward Angus and raised his fists.

“Beaumont swung his leg as if to kick you in the leg and swung his right hand holding the hunting knife in an arc toward you, but he did not make contact,” Justice Jackson said in sentencing the older of the defendants.

“(The younger defendant) lowered his body, moved forward and stabbed Beaumont while Beaumont’s attention was directed towards you (the older defendant).

“Almost immediately Beaumont fell to the ground.”

Justice Jackson said the teens “skipped and ran off” and after a couple of steps they “touched hands in a gesture of having won the fight”.

Both teens will be released after having served 60 per cent of their sentence in custody, with Justice Jackson taking into account “special circumstances” including the extended periods they have spent in lockdown and solitary confinement while on remand.

The teen who wielded the knife used to stab Angus to death, who was 14 at the time and is now 16, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment.

Time already served of 720 days was taken into account and he will be released in March 2026, when he is aged 20.

The second teen, now 17, who was found guilty of murder by way of his common intention to rob the fourth boy, was sentenced to seven years and six months imprisonment. He has already spent 776 days in custody and will be released in March 2025 when he is aged 19.