Vyleen White death: Teen accused of being in car after stabbing has bail revoked for ‘blatant disregard’ of curfew
A “confirmed” teen gang member – alleged to have been in the stolen car following Vyleen White’s fatal stabbing – has returned to court accused of repeated breaches of his bail conditions.
Police & Courts
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A “confirmed” teen gang member – alleged to have been in the stolen car following Vyleen White’s fatal stabbing – has returned to court for “blatant disregard” of his curfew.
The Ipswich Magistrates Court heard at the boy’s bail hearing on Thursday that he allegedly robbed a 14-year-old at knifepoint at a shopping centre – while on bail for a charge of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, linked to the fatal stabbing of Vyleen White.
The beloved Ipswich grandmother was stabbed in the carpark at Redbank Town Square on February 3, allegedly by a youth attempting to steal her car.
Acting Magistrate Rob Turra said the boy, 16, was not involved in the stabbing itself.
He had originally been sentenced to a restorative justice order for the unlawful use, but the matter has since been brought back for resentencing this month.
The boy was arrested and charged with breaching his bail on December 30, which he attempted to plead guilty to on New Year’s Day.
Defence lawyer Matthew Fairclough said on Wednesday that his client wished to be released back into the community immediately.
But police prosecutor Nanette Green said the prosecution would apply for the boy’s bail to be revoked over his “blatant disregard” of curfew.
Mr Turra said the boy, a “confirmed member” of the Swish Bound Gorillas gang, had been out of his house during curfew on six occasions in December alone.
Out of 75 police checks conducted in 2024, the court heard he had only been compliant for 46 – with the boy’s parents saying he “effectively refused to listen” and they had no knowledge of his location.
At the continued Ipswich Magistrates Court bail hearing on Thursday, the court heard the boy already had five outstanding charges for breaching his bail, on top of the armed robbery and unlawful use.
Police prosecutor Bridie O’Shea said the boy had only recently been observed near another stolen vehicle with a group on December 29, and that he led police on a 650m chase on foot.
She submitted that his bail should be revoked as he “refuses to comply … will not comply, has no desire to comply” with his bail conditions.
Mr Fairclough submitted that the boy had strong family support and was expected to attend an Ipswich-region school for year 11 in 2025.
He said the boy had no criminal history and that it was unlikely he would receive a sentence of detention for any of his charges.
However Mr Turra said the law required him to remand a child in detention if he was not satisfied any bail conditions could ameliorate the risks the child posed to the community.
He said he was satisfied this was such a case, given the boy’s “utter noncompliance with bail conditions”.
The boy was remanded in detention for his new breach of bail charge, and bail was revoked on his outstanding charges.
His matter was listed for mention at Ipswich Children’s Court on January 21.
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