Teen accused of stabbing Adelaide CBD security guard blames mum’s failures for his crime

A teenager who allegedly stabbed an Adelaide CBD security guard has blamed his crime on his mother’s failures – but is also accused of threatening to stab her.

Harshpal Sharma was stabbed after confronting a gang of alleged teenage shoplifters at City Cross Arcade Picture: Evangeline Polymeneas

The boy accused of stabbing a City Cross security guard has blamed his mother – whom he also allegedly threatened to stab – for failing to provide “the level of parenting he requires”.

On Monday, the 14-year-old asked the Youth Court to release him on electronically-monitored home detention bail, despite a negative report by authorities.

His counsel asked that, if the court was against bail, it instead consider releasing him into his mother’s care – despite their recent family history.

“He had been banished from the family home, but he’s welcome there now,” she said.

“He has mental health issues, he may have an intellectual disability and, while he hasn’t engaged with the NDIS, that’s equally on the part of the mother’s failures.

“There’s a real question whether the mother is actually providing the level of parenting to (the boy) that he requires.”

The boy and a co-accused, 15, were arrested following an incident at the City Cross shopping arcade last month.

Prosecutors have alleged the 14-year-old stabbed security guard Harshpal “Harry” Sharma after he, the 15-year-old and several other teenagers were accused of shoplifting.

The incident occurred at City Cross on Grenfell Street. Picture: Colin James

Police interview a shopkeeper in City Cross Arcade after security guard was stabbed.

The court has also heard the 15-year-old is the same teenager accused of stabbing an Unley woman through her car window, last October, as she tried to protect her son.

Last week, the 15-year-old was released on strict home detention bail – and banned from entering the Adelaide shopping precinct.

On Monday, a police prosecutor opposed the boy’s release under any circumstances, including to his mother’s address.

“At the time of this incident, (the boy) was already subject to bail with a curfew,” she said.

“He’s breached that bail with this offence and he also has six further matters pending, including three aggravated counts of assault.

“He has been recorded threatening to stab his mother, and he has a history of poor compliance with bail.”

The court refused bail and remanded the boy in custody to face court again in two weeks.

Originally published as Teen accused of stabbing Adelaide CBD security guard blames mum’s failures for his crime