Bailed teen Isi Fakalata’s fronts Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court for alleged Broadmeadows shopping centre machete attack
A teen out on bail has been accused of a string of machete attacks across Melbourne shopping centres with police saying his gang links are “driving the offending”.
A Melbourne teen out on bail accused of a string of machete attacks across northern shopping centres has been labelled an “unacceptable risk” by police, who say his gang links are “driving the offending”.
Isi Fakalata fronted the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday via a video link from custody, where he has been remanded.
The 19-year-old from Mill Park has been charged with affray, committing an indictable offence while on bail and possessing a prohibited weapon.
Police allege that on September 29, Mr Fakalata and several other men were at Campbellfield Plaza about 9.15pm when two cars began driving erratically and circling them.
Mr Fakalata allegedly chased one man with a machete and “almost hit’’ another who tried to intervene, before the group fled prior to police arriving.
On October 10, he and two other men were allegedly walking into Broadmeadows Shopping Centre when a Mazda sped towards them, narrowly missing the trio.
They ran inside, where Mr Fakalata allegedly pulled a machete from his pants as a man from the car — also armed with a machete — chased him.
The pair allegedly fought with machetes inside the centre while recording the clash on their phones, before running off and leaving in separate cars.
Police later allegedly pursued Mr Fakalata through Sharp St, Reservoir, where he jumped into a backyard carrying a double-edged sword.
Officers allegedly found two sleeves of pregabalin capsules on him during his arrest.
On Tuesday, the prosecution told the court Mr Fakalata was also facing an outstanding charge of intentionally causing injury after allegedly punching and pinning another male during a fight in the courtyard of Parkville Youth Justice Centre in June.
The alleged victim reportedly suffered broken teeth and two black eyes.
He was granted bail in September and was due to appear in Ringwood Magistrates’ Court in December.
The informant, Senior Constable Erynn Carter, told the court police believed Mr Fakalata — who was not studying or working — was “involved with a gang”, which was what was “driving the offending”.
“(Mr Fakalata) has been involved in multiple incidents with machetes and weapons,” she said.
“He’s got a serious, extensive criminal history with quite serious charges.”
Senior Constable Carter said the 19-year-old was an “unacceptable risk” because of his involvement with the gang and the “issues between opposing gangs”.
“We believe that the offending is going to continue with all the issues going on between the gangs,” she said.
“At the moment, we’re not sure what the fighting is about, but it is continuing.”
Magistrate Julie Grainger adjourned the bail application until next month to call for an expert report.
