Four teens jailed for murdering Reservoir boy Declan Cutler

A group of teen killers “went nuts” in their youth prison hours before they were due to be sentenced for murdering a defenceless boy and their move to an adult jail.

Four teen killers will spend at least the next 12 years behind bars for the brutal pack stabbing of Declan Cutler.

Several of the teenagers involved in the Declan Cutler killing took part in wild scenes at a youth jail on the eve of their sentencing.

The group ran amok at the Cherry Creek Youth Justice Centre, near Werribee, on Tuesday night.

The Herald Sun has been told they stole their access cards from staff during the drama.

One source said they knew they were going to be sent to an adult jail and “went nuts”.

They broke into a kitchen area during the drama, which is believed to have ended when OC spray was deployed by specialist response officers.

Teens involved in the Cutler murder had been involved in previous incidents of violence in the youth justice system, including at the recently decommissioned Malmsbury facility in central Victoria.

The $419 million Cherry Creek complex opened last year.

The Herald Sun revealed in January staff at the facility were being terrorised by gang members.

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson said: “There was an incident at Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precinct last night.

“OC spray was deployed and the incident was quickly resolved by staff.

“No staff or young people were injured.”

Teens jailed for brutal murder of Declan Cutler

Four teenage murderers will spend at least the next 12 years behind bars for the brutal pack stabbing of a defenceless Declan Cutler, 16, who they wrongly believed was part of a rival gang.

The killers showed little reaction as they were handed sentences of up to two decades over the brutal attack, as Declan’s mother wept in the Supreme Court for her lost son.

The convicted murderers, now aged between 17 and 19, will today learn whether they’ll be sent to an adult jail or remain in youth detention as the Adult Parole Board is set to hold a special meeting to determine their fate.

Declan was repeatedly stabbed more than 60 times in the street by eight young thugs.

Justice Rita Incerti on Wednesday handed down maximum sentences of between 17 years and 6 months and 19 years and six months for the killers linked to the 9ers youth gang, who she’d found guilty of murder after a lengthy trial.

She set non parole periods between 12 years and 14 years and six months.

But all four have been charged with fresh crimes while in custody, meaning it would be unlikely they’d get out at the earliest chance.

Her Honour described the gruesome attack on Declan who had left a birthday party when he was chased down and repeatedly stabbed more than 60 times in the street by eight young thugs in the early hours of March 13, 2022.

Captured on CCTV, Justice Incerti said the footage of the two-minute attack “will forever haunt anyone who has seen it, particularly Declan’s parents”.

His mother, Samantha Cutler, wiped away tears with tissues as the horror details of her son’s final moments were detailed.

The callous actions of his killers were laid bare as the court heard one teen who’d stomped and kicked his body, went back to the dying boy for a trophy shot and “posed as if taking a photo with your foot over him”.

Samantha Cutler wept in court for her lost son.

Another who had repeatedly stabbed Declan, crouched next to his body with his phone flashlight on, then kicked the boy before walking off and jumping in the group’s stolen getaway car.

As the eight criminals drove away, one of the killers yelled out to a girl they knew in the street, “He’s round there, he’s dead, mum’s life, he’s dead”.

The eight teens, linked to the 9ers youth gang, had piled into the stolen Mazda and driven from Tarneit believing members of the rival H-town gang were at a party in Reservoir.

A girl connected to the 9ers had organised for one of their crew to pick her up from Reservoir, and recorded footage on her phone of partygoers yelling, “F*** the 9ers”.

Declan, who wasn’t linked to H-Town, was targeted by mistake, simply being the first person the group drove past as he was walking home from the party.

He tried to run, but the eight youths chased after him in their car, dragging him to the nature strip and taking turns to viciously stab him with four knives in an attack that took Declan 15 minutes to die from.

The worst offender, a boy, now 19, who stabbed Declan more than 50 times, was jailed for 19 years and 6 months, with a minimum 14 years and 6 months.

The father of slain teen Declan Cutler, Bryan Beattie, has pleaded with kids to “drop their weapons” after his son’s tragic death.

Another 19-year-old, who grabbed a knife out of his co-accused’s hand to join in the stabbing, received 19 years with a non-parole period of 14 years.

A third 19-year-old, who kicked and stomped Declan then acted like he was posing for a picture with his lifeless body, was jailed for 18 years and will be eligible for parole after 12 years.

His earlier offer to plead guilty to manslaughter was rejected.

The youngest of the quartet, now 17, who was the first to stab Declan, stood with his arms crossed and his head down as he learned he’d be jailed for 17 years and 6 months, with a minimum 12 years.

He’d only just turned 15 at the time of the murder.

Justice Incerti recommended the four convicted murderers remain in youth detention until they’re 21 years old, but that will be a matter for the Adult Parole Board.

All eight boys involved in the deadly attack have now had their cases dealt with.

Last year, Justice Incerti found a boy, 14, not guilty of murder because he was too young to know his actions were wrong.

A 16-year old boy who pleaded guilty to murder for repeatedly stabbing Declan was sentenced to 15 years jail with a minimum 10 years.

Two other boys, both 18, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and intentionally causing serious injury for kicking and stabbing the victim, and got four years and 3.5 years in youth detention.