Jalen Ecko Taylor committed to trial on attempted murder charge

A Gold Coast teen accused of chasing down and trying to kill his best friend has made a bid for freedom, with new details of the case revealed. Read full details here.

A GOLD Coast teenager accused of chasing down and repeatedly stabbing his best friend will await trial from his family home after being released on bail.

Jalen Ecko Taylor, 18, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, facing one charge of attempted murder.

It is alleged an altercation broke out between Taylor and another 18-year-old – identified in court this week as “his best friend of seven years” – on Rifle Bird St, Coomera on May 29 last year.

Taylor allegedly chased the other teen into nearby parkland and stabbed him several times to the legs and arms, and tried to stab him in the face.

The alleged victim was taken to hospital in a serious condition with non-life threatening injuries.

Taylor has been in custody for the 10 months since his arrest.

He was was supported in court by his parents, brother, and extended family as his case was committed to trial in the Supreme Court.

The teenager also applied for bail, following earlier applications being withdrawn.

Police prosecutor Paige Barrow said it was alleged Taylor had previously experimented with drugs and admitted to using LSD prior to the incident, but the psychedelic did not show up in subsequent testing.

She said Taylor was allegedly “motivated by a delusion” that his friend harmed his parents.

“We can make assumptions about a drug-induced psychosis, but we don’t know for certain that it caused this offence,” Sgt Barrow said.

“I have no doubt (his family) will provide support and that they have the best intentions – however, those were the living conditions at the time of the offending.”

Defence lawyer Mollie Roper said the most recent letter from Taylor’s psychologist indicated he was complying with treatment and had no ongoing symptoms of psychotic illness.

She said a report following a psych appointment in August would give further insight into Taylor’s mental health, and that a strict treatment plan and ban on illegal drugs would lower any risk of reoffending while on bail.

The court was told Taylor’s parents were willing to enforce a 24-hour curfew and help with his medication and voluntary drug testing to see their son return home.

His family members were overtly emotional as Magistrate Louisa Pink granted his bail, adding reporting to police weekly to the list of strict conditions.

No Supreme Court date has yet been set.