Three teenage boys, 15 and 16, charged over Westfield Marion attack appear in Adelaide Youth Court

A third teen charged over the chaotic lockdown at Westfield Marion was arrested wearing a stolen jumper that triggered the brawl and was seen with a machete, a court has heard.

One of three youths charged over Westfield Marion’s dramatic lockdown on Sunday afternoon was arrested wearing a stolen jumper while in possession of a machete, a court has heard.

Meanwhile, one of his co-accused was in the care of the Department of Child Protection at the time of the offence, the court heard.

Two of the boys, aged 15 and 16, from Mitchell Park and Adelaide, appeared in the Adelaide Youth Court on Monday morning, via video link from custody, following their arrest overnight.

The court heard details on Monday about what caused the fight that led to the lockdown, with prosecutors alleging it was sparked over an attempt to steal a $155 jumper.

An advertising photo of a TrapStar hoodie which is believed to be at the centre of the dispute that sparked chaos at Westfield Marion on Sunday.

Westfield Marion was placed into lockdown as a result. Picture: Brett Hartwig

All three boys have been charged with assault, affray and aggravated robbery. Police said two expandable batons were seized at the time of the arrest.

The third youth – a 15-year-old from Morphett Vale – was arrested while wearing the allegedly stolen designer jumper – and seen pulling a machete from his pants during the conflict, a court has heard.

The boy appeared in the Adelaide Youth Court on Monday afternoon separately to his two co-accused.

The court heard the teen was currently serving a suspended sentence for multiple previous offences, including two counts of assault against his then-girlfriend and possessing a knife.

The court also heard he is currently on two separate bail agreements from the Christies Beach Youth Court for unrelated offending.

Counsel for the boy said he denied being in possession of the alleged machete – and any other weapon.

Magistrate Kate Hodder ordered a home detention suitability report for the youth – but clarified it did not mean he would get bail.

Earlier, defence counsel for the 15-year-old from Mitchell Park – who is currently under the care of the Department of Child Protection – said her client had refused legal advice but would still be applying for bail.

Heavily armed police swooped on Westfield Marion on Sunday. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The youth later told the court: “When they called me, I was really tired in my bed … I wasn’t thinking straight.”

Prosecutors said they were opposed to all forms of bail, saying the boy was currently subject to a suspended sentence obligation.

Meanwhile, defence counsel for the 16-year-old said her client was currently suffering homelessness, along with his mother, but applied for home detention bail.

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The 16-year-old is charged with aggravated affray, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault.

The duo were with a third suspect who police allege was wielding a machete.

Prosecution opposed the 16-year-old’s bail application due to the severity of the incident and for the protection of the community.

The prosecutor said the two groups first encountered each other at the Oaklands Park interchange about 2pm on Sunday with the victim stating the defendants were trying to steal his Track Star jumper – worth $155.

“(The victim) tells his friends these three individuals might take his Track Star hoodie,” he said.

Relieved shoppers after the ordeal. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“They walk from the shopping centre into the food court … it’s at this stage that he observed the other three boys approach one of his friends, it’s at this stage, he alleges the three weapons were brandished.

“It’s at that point, it’s alleged, (the suspect) wielded a machete.”

The prosecutor said the victim and his friends attempted to run away at which point he took his jumper off and threw it on the ground.

The prosecutor said the 16-year-old had just completed a good behaviour bond which arose from assault charges.

He is also before the court on disorderly behaviour charges.

“The consequences have been significant … it’s alleged at least one person is known to have suffered injuries … in the evacuation,” he said.

“Obviously there was a great sense of fear instilled in all shoppers.

“Brandishing items of this nature … is something that isn’t trivial.”

The 16-year-old’s lawyer told the court the youth was unaware of the lockdown until several hours later.

“The fear that’s ultimately caused by Westfield … it was never (the defendant’s) intention that things escalated to the point they did in so far as the response is concerned,” she said.

“It is not unusual for there to be fights between youths, or even adults, it’s never before resulted in a lockdown.”

The lawyer said she was informed that the CCTV footage showed the victim approaching her client and throwing a chair at him.

“It’s not uncommon for there to be youths in shopping centres who have fights,” she said.

Ms Hodder ordered a bail report for both boys. All three will return to court again in July.

The Department of Child Protection would not comment.

Originally published as Three teenage boys, 15 and 16, charged over Westfield Marion attack appear in Adelaide Youth Court