No show parents pause kids’ court matters in Townsville Children’s Court

A young girl will remain behind bars after her bid for freedom was halted due to no parent or guardian showing up to court to supervise her bail application.

Parents and guardians not attending court to supervise their child’s legal proceedings has halted one young girl’s bid for freedom and a boy’s opportunity to be sentenced for his charges.

A young girl who was scheduled to make a bail application in Townsville Children’s Court on Thursday morning had to have the charges moved due to a guardian not responding to the court’s attempts at contacting them.

In Queensland, juveniles must only be dealt with while a parent or guardian supervises whether that be by attending court in person or phoning in.

The girl was brought into the dock in Townsville court by two police officers, and sat with her arms tucked into her shirt.

The court was told that the girl’s mother is in jail, her father was away and she was left in the care of her aunty who did not answer the phone when called twice by the magistrate to supervise the girl’s bail application.

The court further tried to call her stepfather, who also didn’t answer.

Her lawyer told the court it was a “challenging situation”.

“It’s certainly not my client’s fault that her mother is in jail and her father’s away attending sorry business, she’s been left in the care of another relative,” the lawyer said.

Magistrate Steven Mosch said there had been a time when he would have been allowed to deal with a bail application without a parent or guardian many years ago.

“I am concerned given her age and lack of history and I am aware that the youth detention centres are full, that there is some need to progress this matter,” her lawyer said.

His Honour adjourned the bail application to Friday, February 21.

In a separate matter, a juvenile charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle was unable to be sentenced after the court attempted to call his father multiple times without answer.

On Thursday morning a young boy charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and entering a dwelling appeared in Townsville Children’s Court by video link as he remained at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.

Townsville Children's Court wrap. Picture: istock

While Magistrate Steven Mosch was ready to sentence the young boy who has been in custody for 83 days, the boy’s father failed to answer the three phone calls made to him so the process could continue.

“We’re having a bit of trouble getting a hold of your father, he was going to appear by telephone and we haven’t had luck in tracking him down,” His Honour told the boy.

“It might be I can’t press on today, I can’t sentence you without your father involved.”

When told that his father wasn’t answering the phone the boy simply nodded.

Magistrate Mosch said he looked at the boy’s criminal history and it showed 32 previous offences which included stealing, entering dwellings and unlawfully using motor vehicles.

“I think you’re in a bit of strife here,” he said.

“I don’t think you will be disadvantaged because I think you will be spending more time in custody. I’m going to make an order for your father to appear in court next time, if he doesn’t appear in court he might be in strife himself.”

The magistrate adjourned the boy’s charges to March 6 and ordered his dad be present in the courtroom.

In another matter, a young boy who was charged after allegedly breaking into vehicles at a unit complex, has been warned by the magistrate to “think for himself” and not stay in the “wrong crowd” after he had a long break from being charged with any offences.

The 13-year-old boy appeared in court with his mum in attendance.

The court was told the boy has been charged with going armed to cause fear which related to a gel blaster in his possession and more recently vehicle-related charges.

Only the day prior had the boy’s younger brother been in the same courtroom after spending nine days in the watch house according to Magistrate Mosch.

“I expect more from this young man here,” he said looking at the 13-year-old.

“He’s stayed out of trouble for a long time, I don’t know whether this is true or not but it’s said there might have been a group that was trawling around in the early hours of the morning and that’s bad news for a young man whose 13 that’s when drama goes down.

“A young man stays home at night time and he can’t get into any trouble alright.”

He said he had been “really impressed” with how long the boy had been out of trouble for.

“It’s been good news,” Magistrate Mosch said.

“You make sure that you think for yourself, don’t get into a crowd that’s going to get you into trouble, it’s really important.”

The charges were adjourned to March 6.

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Originally published as No show parents pause kids’ court matters in Townsville Children’s Court