Zillmere park murder case: Alex Edward Deng faces committal

A committal hearing for one of 13 men charged over a stabbing death at a Brisbane park has heard of alleged comments made in the watch-house.

Girum Mekonnen was fatally stabbed at a Zillmere park in 2020. (Facebook image)

A man charged over the murder of Girum Mekonnen was allegedly overheard saying, “We rocked up with murder on our mind,” at the watch-house after his arrest, a committal has heard.

Alex Edward Deng is one of 13 men charged over the alleged stabbing death of the 19-year-old at O’Callaghan Park, Zillmere, in Brisbane’s north on September 13, 2020.

He and 10 others – Ben Abio Chan Kuchmol Kon, Joseph Lokolong, Majok Riel Majok Juma Makuol Deng Makuol, Anas Ayman Abdu Musa, Kresto Wal Wal, Yohana Wal Wal, Gabreal Wal Wal and Santo Wal – faced Brisbane Magistrates Court today for a committal hearing.

Police allege the 13 men descended on Mr Mekonnen and his friends with weapons in the park.

Police allege Mr Mekonnen was killed and others were injured.

They have all been charged with murder, affray and acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm.

The courtroom was packed with family and support of both Mr Mekonnen and the defendants.

Ten Corrective Service officers were also posted to the room.

A witness, whose identity has been suppressed, told the court he shared a cell at the Brisbane watch-house with a man named Slim.

Police and ambulance at the scene in September 2020. Picture: Facebook/Rod Nunn

The court heard he had told police Slim said, ”When we get out we are going to finish the job on the northside n-----s.”

The Crown will allege that Slim is Alex Edward Deng.

The man has also told police that there were about 12 men in the watch-house, many of whom had taken off shirts and were “yahooing”.

“They were all sort of happy to be there,” he told the court.

In a statement he described Deng’s behaviour as “rambunctious”, the court heard.

“The radio was playing in the watch-house the news came on about 10 being charged over a gang murder, Slim laughed and proudly shouted ‘that’s us boys, that’s us’,” the man alleged in a statement.

Gabreal Wal’s barrister Greg McGuire accused the man of providing this information to police for his own benefit to gain leverage for his own situation.

The court heard the man had been in custody for fraud offences, breaches of domestic violence orders and a common assault on his child and wife.

“You doing it just as a citizen’s duty?” Mr McGuire inquired.

“Partly,” the man responded.

The court heard two defendants – Malat Akoi Makuach and Abraham Ajang Yaak – have already been committed.

Valentino Uchalla told police that he was allegedly hit by a man with a machete.

“I was trying to save myself. I wasn’t trying to pay attention to what they were wearing,” Mr Uchalla said while being cross-examined about his attacker’s appearance.

Asked if he saw what happened to Mr Mekonnen he said: “I didn’t see what happened till afterwards”.

Witness Turuk Shong said he was intoxicated at the time of the alleged attack.

“I got hit in the head,” he said. “I didn’t see it coming, I didn’t see who hit me.”

Mr Shong’s police statement said the attackers were Sudanese and were armed with knives, machetes and baseball bats.

Mr Shong today told the court he had never said that.

Mr Mekonnen’s friend Aida Subeck arrived at the park after the attack.

Prior to the incident she said one of the defendant’s relatives had been attacked at a shopping centre.

The defendant contacted her to find out if it had been the “northside boys”.

“I called the northside boys they said no we didn’t do it and I called junior back and I said they didn’t do it,” she said.

The committal continues tomorrow.