Students allegedly plotted in group chat after Pyrmont stabbing

Details about an alleged social media group chat plot after the violent stabbing of a man in Pyrmont have been heard in court.

Some of the teens accused of bashing and watching on as their mate allegedly stabbed an unconscious stranger in the eye plotted about taking revenge on anyone who spoke to police in a social media group chat, a court has heard.

Nine teens have now been arrested following the horrific attack on a man, 36, at Pyrmont on Friday night, whose face was sliced open repeatedly as he lay unresponsive on the ground.

One of the boys, 15, appeared before Surry Hills Children’s Court on Wednesday charged with affray and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Kai Jiang told the court the “planned and targeted attack” was a clear example of “mob mentality”, as the group brutalised an innocent stranger who was likely to lose his eye.

“It’s an extreme example of what a group of teenagers are capable of … extreme violence,” he said.

“The community will be outraged to find the level of wanton violence shown by this group of teenagers.”

The crime scene in Pyrmont on Friday night. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

Sgt Jiang said the boy was one of several co-offenders allegedly involved in a group chat on social media, which he said revealed evidence of a “pro-criminal mentality”.

“They were gloating about the injuries. They were almost proud of the infliction of the violence,” he said.

In refusing bail Magistrate Jeffrey Hogg said the boys also discussed taking revenge on anyone who went to the police in the social media chat.

Magistrate Hogg said those messages suggested the boy, who had actively avoided arrest for several days, was not as remorseful as he had told police following his arrest.

“It is a vile, horrific crime,” he said. “The injuries are extraordinarily severe and life-changing.”

The court heard whether the 15-year-old knew one of his co-accused allegedly had a knife would be a “live issue” in court proceedings.

A Sydney schoolboy is accused of bragging about a violent attack in texts to mates.

Magistrate Hogg noted that but said there was an “extraordinarily strong case” for the affray charge before the court.

Sgt Jiang said the incident was captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage, while several witnesses had also given their accounts to police.

Another boy, 16, appeared before Parramatta Children’s Court on Wednesday morning where he was granted conditional bail.

The boy who allegedly slashed at the face of a man in a horrific stabbing and bashing in Pyrmont.

The boy, from Wiley Park, faces the same charges of affray and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was bailed on strict conditions including that he must reside with his parents and not leave home without them unless he is travelling to TAFE. He must be home between the hours of 7pm and 6am and is banned from contacting any of his co-accused.

He is next due to appear in court on September 21 at Surry Hills Children’s Court.

The former Barker College student was released on bail on Tuesday.

Eight of the nine teens – aged between 15 and 18 – face the serious charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

One boy, 15 and from Killara, was not involved in the attack but faces a charge of inciting a crime.

Investigations continue.