Jack Kennedy faces court after being charged with the murder of Ekampreet Singh Sahni, 18, at Bar Beach carpark
The second man charged with the murder of a Newcastle teenager in a random shooting at a popular beach car park has now faced court. Read what happened.
Newcastle
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The second man charged with the murder of a Newcastle teenager in a random shooting at a popular beach car park has now faced court.
Jack Kennedy, 25, was charged by detectives at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre in Kempsey on Thursday over the death of 18-year-old Ekampreet Singh Sahni at the Bar Beach carpark on April 23.
He is also facing charges of possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm, acquiring a firearm subject to prohibition order and taking and driving a conveyance without consent.
Kennedy was originally listed to appear in the new Bail Division in Sydney on Friday but, following confusion, the magistrate said he needed to be shifted to a local court for his matter to be heard.
Shortly after, the 25-year-old appeared via video link at Newcastle Local Court where his charges were adjourned for brief status to September 10.
Kennedy, who was in custody for unrelated matters and has not been required to enter any pleas, is the second person charged over the teen’s murder.
Decklen Deaves-Thornton, 22, was arrested two days following the shooting when he voluntarily walked into Newcastle police station.
Police allege Kennedy was driving a Volvo SUV and parked in the carpark where Mr Sahni and other men were socialising before his passenger, Deaves-Thornton, got out of the car armed with a gun.
Police allege the 22-year-old poked Mr Sahni in the chest with a rifle before the gun later discharged, striking the teenager and killing him.
Police will allege Kennedy also got out of the car armed with a pistol and was wearing a balaclava.
While he’s not alleged to have fired a shot, police will allege the 25-year-old was part of a joint criminal enterprise which led to the teen’s death.
Police were told Mr Sahni had spoken to two women parked nearby at the popular beach carpark before becoming involved in a physical altercation with another man.
It is not alleged those parties knew anyone in the Volvo, which had arrived independently afterwards.
While the fight did end amicably, police allege Deaves-Thornton overheard unfounded allegations against Mr Sahni that he was “annoying” the girls, which then allegedly prompted him to grab his rifle and confront the 18-year-old.
Police allege when the gunman walked back to the car, something was said back to him before the 18-year-old was shot and collapsed to the ground.
The Volvo was driven off before allegedly being burnt out almost 15km away in Tingira Heights.
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