Casino community reels after two teen stabbings

Wild rumours of hit lists, race brawls and more have ignited in the small Northern NSW town as a grieving community tries to make sense of two teen stabbings within weeks of each other.

Around Casino, there is a sense of panic as children embark on July school holidays.

At the local pub, a woman tells of an 18-year-old who has left their rented unit to return to the safety of their parent’s home.

The youth is scared he is on a rumoured ‘kill list’ that emerged after two fatal teen stabbings within weeks has driven the town into a fury of paranoia.

At just 17, Canberra labourer Lachlan Andrews was working on flood-impacted properties when he was tragically killed after an allegedly pre-organised brawl turned fatal outside the Casino KFC on May 29,2022.

Kids as young as 12 are alleged to have turned up to watch a fight but instead witnessed the horrific scene.

Harrison Hone, 18, was also taken to hospital with serious injuries from the fight.

A 17-year-old has been charged with murder, reckless wounding, and affray over the alleged brawl.

Another youth Aaron John Pocklington, 18, has been charged with affray and using an offensive weapon in company with intent to commit an indictable offence.

The site of the fatal stabbing at McDougall Street home on June 25, 2022.

Less than a month later another young man, aged 17, was taken away following a fatal stabbing in his McDougall St home on June 25, 2022.

Earlier this week, Rayne Aylward, 18, faced court, charged with the alleged murder.

All three are yet to enter pleas.

As police investigations continue, a community in grieving and panic turns their sights to how they can keep their kids safe while wild rumours of future brawls and kill lists flare.

Established business owners have told the Northern Star kids in the town known to them who were involved in the brawl that killed Lachlan Andrews have said there is a list of around 10, two down and eight to go.

Others point at several Instagram pages which document underage localised fights, often in school uniform.

Both staff and NSW Education have dispelled the rumours that were circulating around Casino High School.

On Wednesday, rumours circulated of a race brawl at the local state high school, Casino High School, causing relieving Principal Alecia Keatney to issue a letter to parents over the “unsubstantiated rumours”.

On Friday, the school once again issued a letter telling parents to stay “mindful” of the impacts “rumour and speculation can have on our young people”.

A NSW Department of Education spokesperson said the school is working closely with local police to “ensure the safety of the wider school community at this time.”

“Our number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff,” they said.

Richmond Police have again reiterated the two incidents are “isolated” while police increase their presence in the town via outreach programs.

NSW Police Media told the Northern Star the two murders “are not believed to be related”.

Harold Torrens with Ben West are trying to get more activities for Casino youth. Picture: Cath Piltz

Youth advocate and Casino Indoor Sports Stadium manager Ben West said the recent tragedies are the topic of conversation at every pub, supermarket and cafe you go to.

“There’s the old saying rumour spreads around the world before the truth has got its boots on,” he said.

“(In regards to The Casino High School claims) that hysteria was caused by adults, not by kids.

“I understand people’s concerns, they want their kids safe, but they would have been safe at school.”

He said many viewed the incidents as a “long time coming”.

“There’s been unrest with Covid and then the floods on top of that, unrest for everybody, but the kids have had their lives turned upside down,” he said.

“There’s so many unrelated incidents that add up, all these kids out there stealing cars and burning them out, breaks ins.”

He also pointed to the “easy, accessible” ice culture which had been reduced but still lingered.

In 2018, Casino residents labelled alcohol and drug misuse their biggest health concern in a Healthy North Coast survey.

Casino support worker Harold Torrens said he hoped such panic wouldn’t threaten existing relationships.

“I hope it doesn’t tear us apart because I do have a lot of white friends and most importantly, in my work space, I’m in the high school working with non-indigenous kids and indigenous kids and I don’t want to see that cycle breaking because of that conflict,” he said.

“We know parents are going to get a bit overwhelmed but I think overreacting is not going to help the community.”

A mum of two teenagers who knew both boys killed, said her sons are “scared and angry and confused”.

She urged a community in “uproar” to talk to their kids and to try to understand the complex trauma many were experiencing right now.

“It has woken a lot of people up to the severity of it,” she said.

“Ultimately, it’s children murdering each other, that’s absolutely shocking.

“Our young people are on the back-end of Covid, of floods and also being in a space not hardwired to understand how to actually deal with conflict.

“It has been a long time coming in the respect that it’s not just a racial issue, it’s not just a youth issue, I think they need a lot of support and a lot of presence right now.”

As a former Northern Rivers youth worker, the mum said Eshay and rap culture could also be to blame.

“They’re embodying it to a certain degree and next thing they know they’re dealing with the reality that death is final,” she said.

‘What could be more urgent’: Where we go from here

Mr West runs a youth night every Friday, where attendees can range from 20 to 120 and come for free food and games.

He said there’s plenty of people who want to help Casino teens but without a change to penalty rates, many are unable to work outside daylight hours.

“The biggest problem for me is service providers and workers work nine to five, Monday to Friday and that just gives them school holidays to make a difference,” he said.

One of his more successful martial arts programs was also halted due to the instructor being unvaccinated.

The Richmond River caused widespread flooding in Casino back in March 2022, the effects of which remain. Picture: Tessa Flemming

He said the concept of PCYC, which Casino doesn’t currently have, could “definitely work” if such obstacles were overcome

Mr West also urged the government bodies in charge of allocating bushfire and flood funding to prioritise places for youth.

Up to 3000 Richmond Valley homes and businesses were damaged in the 2022 floods including the indoor sports stadium.

“It’s urgent, kids are killing kids what could be more urgent,” he said.

“There’s a bigger chance of change in a small community than a big one.

“Everyone knows each other here, or knows of each other, it just needs people willing to work together.”

Mum and Commercial Hotel publican Stacey Hayes said media and games all played a part in a growing anti-social culture.

“Casino is one of the best towns in the Northern Rivers but there is an epidemic of boredom,” she said.

Harold Torrens, of Casino on the unrest the town of around 15,000 is feeling after two murders within a month. Picture Cath Piltz

It is something Mr Torrens agreed on as he pushed for more daily youth outreach options.

“We need more game plans in the community,” he said.

“Youth centres, cultural events for indigenous and non-indigenous, like we’ve got all the sporting events happening but that still doesn’t impact with what’s happening through the week.

“As a local, we had that kind of stuff growing up.

“We had the youth centre, we had bus runs, where we could take them to NRL games, tenpin bowling, that’s one thing that needs to be brought back in today’s consideration.”

Other solutions flouted included early intervention programs which would see those under the age of 25 who had been involved in petty crime and the justice system to reach out to teens.

“15 year olds, they don’t want to listen to Boomers,” one resident said.

“Community violence, family violence and even domestic violence, it’s a community problem.

“They’re hard conversations to have but there are gaps there and people fall through the gaps, especially young people.

“I think we need to accept it is a real problem and everybody has a part to play.”