Teen who brutally killed his mother as part of a deluded plot could be free when he is 25

A cold-blooded teen killer who bludgeoned and knifed his “loving and generous” mother nearly 100 times as part of a deluded plot to raise an anti-communist army and take over Australia could be free when he is 25.

A teenager who brutally killed his mother as part of a deluded plot to raise an anti-communist army and take over Australia could be free when he is 25.

Armed with a knife and cricket bat, the then 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, bludgeoned and knifed his mother nearly 100 times inside their Melbourne home in April 2023.

Now 17, the teen appeared in the Supreme Court on Friday, where justice James Elliott said he would sentence him to 15 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 10 years after he pleaded guilty to his mother’s murder.

“The circumstances of your mother’s murder are shocking,” the judge said.

“Your offending was brutal and cold-blooded.

“Without any provocation, she was struck to the head with a cricket bat and repeatedly stabbed despite screaming out for it to stop and telling you that you were killing her.”

Wearing a dark-coloured hoodie, the teen, who appeared via video link from custody, was inexpressive and kept his gaze down as his crimes were denounced.

Several family members and friends of the slain woman were seated in the public gallery.

The killing was the first part of a plot, known as Operation Continuity, which the boy had planned with a school friend and involved fleeing to the Grampians where an anti-communist army would be raised to take over Australia and restore Christian values.

The boy bludgeoned and knifed his mother nearly 100 times inside their Melbourne home in April 2023. Picture: Valeriu Campan,

The teen killed his mother to steal her car to carry out the operation.

For several months, the friends planned the operation, obtaining military gear, camouflage clothing and rations and attempting to recruit other school friends to join.

They also shared thousands of messages, some of which detailed their desire to kill their parents.

The friend allegedly described having feelings of “homicidal rage” while the victim’s son encouraged him to hold it together and wait until they put their plan into action.

“Would you rather kill him now and have momentary satisfaction, or would you rather wait and torture him for however long you want to and have much more satisfaction for longer?” one message said.

Just hours after sitting down with his mother, 41, and younger brother for dinner, the boy put the plan into action, attacking his mother in her bedroom about 10.30pm on April 5, 2023.

His younger brother heard his mother screaming “stop, stop” and “you’re killing me” and ran to a nearby police station to raise the alarm.

The boy then fled in his mother’s SUV which he dumped in St Kilda before catching a train out of Melbourne.

The boy put the plan into action just hours after having dinner with his mum and younger brother. Picture: Valeriu Campan,

He was arrested the following afternoon while walking along a road in Miners Rest, near Ballarat, in camouflage clothing.

The court heard the teen, who has autism, shared a rare induced delusional disorder with his school friend, with the pair claiming to have received messages from God telling them to carry out the operation.

Forensic psychiatrist David Thomas, who assessed the boy, told a pre-sentence hearing the disorder was commonly found in cults and reinforced by their close relationship.

“We believed we were Christians but looking back on it now, we were not Christians,” the boy later told Dr Thomas.

“At the time, we believed what we did was God’s will.”

On Friday, justice Elliott said the victim was a loving and generous mother who had made many sacrifices for her son.

“You were incredibly fortunate to have been born into your family,” he said.

The teenager’s young age and willingness to engage with mental health services indicated he could be rehabilitated, though “a lot more work” needed to be done so he could form healthy relationships, the judge said.

“It is clear you regret what has occurred,” he said.

Justice Elliott said he would not formally impose his sentence until next week when the adult parole board decides whether the boy will remain in youth detention, as recommended, or transferred to an adult prison.

With time served, the teen could be freed from custody in 2033 when he is aged 25.