Second child pleads guilty to Cairns Central armed robbery

A second child has pleaded guilty to his role in a sickening pile-on bashing and robbery of a 47-year-old man in Cairns Central shopping centre in September last year by a pack of teens armed with a wet floor sign.

A second child has pleaded guilty to his role in a sickening pile-on bashing and robbery of a 47-year-old man in Cairns Central shopping centre in September last year by a pack of teens armed with a wet floor sign.

A second child has pleaded guilty to his role in a sickening pile-on bashing and robbery of a 47-year-old man in Cairns Central shopping centre in September last year by a pack of teens armed with a wet floor sign.

The now 14-year-old boy pleaded guilty to one charge of armed robbery in company with personal violence as he was arraigned in Queensland Childrens Court on Thursday.

One of the boy’s three co-offenders, a boy who was only 12 years old at the time, was previously sentenced for his role in the attack and received a year of probation.

During that sentencing the court heard a group of eight children, aged between 12 and 15, approached the man, 47, on the evening of September 18, 2024, outside the McLeod Street shopping centre, calling him names, then following him into the carpark.

The boy began throwing rocks at the man and chased him inside the centre with the other children, who punched and pushed him and assaulted him with a “wet floor” sign.

Prosecutor Annica Fritz said the children took the man’s bag, containing his phone and wallet, and fled.

Parts of the attack were caught on CCTV cameras.

Not all eight children were charged with armed robbery, with others diverted or cautioned.

A charge explanation statement was provided to the court by prosecutor Emily Thambyah, which was read to the teenager by Judge Tracy Fantin.

“The charge relates to a time on the 18th of September when you, with three others, chased a man into Cairns Central shopping centre,” she said.

“The prosecution says you struck the man’s yellow wet floor sign and you and the other boys punched and kicked the man many times and you stole his bag.”

Ms Thambyah described the attack as “brute violence” and told the court the man suffered a fractured wrist, bruising and a mild concussion.

She tendered the boy’s 11-page juvenile history, remarking he had been in court “quite consistently since he was 13”.

Judge Fantin ordered a pre-sentence report be prepared by the Department of Youth Justice

Two other children have been charged for the armed robbery but are yet to enter formal pleas.

Originally published as Second child pleads guilty to Cairns Central armed robbery