One of the men charged with murder in Zillmere attack has been granted bail
One of the 12 people accused of the murder of a man in a north Brisbane park last month has been granted bail on strict conditions.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
One of 12 people charged over the murder of a 19-year-old man during a group attack at a Brisbane park last month has been granted bail on strict conditions.
Anas Ayman Abdu Musa has been charged with the murder of Girum Mekonnen on September 13 and other charges, including acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and affray.
Mr Mekonnen was allegedly fatally stabbed during a brawl between two groups of African youths at the park at Zillmere on September 13.
One of five men charged with Acacia Ridge bashing was an alleged Zillmere gang fight victim
Deportation threat hangs over Zillmere gang attack accused
Boys charged after serious alleged bashing that police believe sparked Zillmere killing
Police allege there were two witnesses who identified Musa as a person who was at the park with a baseball bat on the day of the alleged murder and assaults on others.
There also was a suggestion that one witness saw Musa with a long bladed weapon, during the alleged reprisal attack by one group against another, the Supreme Court in Brisbane heard.
Justice Susan Brown today granted Musa, a Sudanese refugee who is now an Australian citizen, bail on conditions including a surety of $100,000 to be paid by his father and a family friend.
The Crown opposed bail because of the seriousness of the alleged offences and the risk of Musa failing to appear in court and the risk of him reoffending.
Barrister Steve Dickson, for the Crown, said a group of people had gone with a premeditated plan to attack another group, clearly armed with weapons, including machetes and bats.
Mr Dickson said Musa had involved himself in an attack involving significant violence and there were allegations that he had thrown a bottle at a witness.
Mr Mekonnen and others had been stabbed that day.
Musa’s involvement demonstrated his willingness to participate in serious violence in public, Mr Dickson said.
He said since the 12 defendants had been remanded in custody, there had been another vicious reprisal attack against a member of a group associated with Musa.
Counsel for Musa, Angus Edwards, conceded that there was a prima facie case against Musa being present on the day of the attack, probably armed with a baseball bat.
But Mr Edwards said the evidence did not show that Musa, who has no previous criminal history, engaged in any violence.
Mr Edwards also told the Supreme Court the evidence of two witnesses who claimed to have identified Musa as an offender was questionable.
The court heard Musa, who had studied for but not completed a degree at Australian Catholic University, was of an uncertain age, between 19 and 21.
Justice Brown said the evidence currently did not provide a strong case against Musa, although the offences were still under investigation.
She said she was satisfied Musa’s detention in custody was not justified.
While on bail, Musa must live with his parents and six siblings, he must be on a 24-hour-a-day curfew and he must wear a tracking device.
He will have to report to police daily, surrender any passport and not apply for a passport and he must have no contact with complainants or witnesses.