Three men charged over alleged murder of Justin Tsang from Sydney’s inner west

A Sydney teenager pleaded for his life as he was allegedly tortured for hours and hours before he was brutally murdered, police say.

Three people have been charged over alleged murder of Justin Tsang. Picture: NSW Police

Sydney teenager Justin Tsang was allegedly subjected to a “disturbing” level of violence amounting to torture before he was murdered and buried in a grave in the Blue Mountains, police say.

The 17-year-old was reported missing from Canada Bay on March 15, after his family had not seen or heard from him. Four days later, on March 19, his body was found in a grave at Jamison Lookout at Wentworth Falls.

Three teens have been arrested and charged with murder as grisly details emerge of what allegedly unfolded.

Two 18-year-olds and a 19-year-old — believed to be the ringleader — were charged with murder and take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage occasion actual bodily harm.

Scott Cook, the commander of the NSW Police Homicide squad, told reporters the teenager was picked up in a green BMW sedan on March 12.

“We know that Justin was taken to an address in Burwood Heights, where he was detained against his will,” he said.

Justin Tsang’s body was discovered in the Blue Mountains.

“We know, moving into March 12, that Justin was beaten and brutally killed on the premises.

“We know that the men responsible for this then put him back into the green BMW and drove to the Jamison Lookout at Wentworth Falls (in the Blue Mountains).

“Justin was buried in a shallow grave and those particular people drove back to the address in Burwood where they proceeded to clean the scene.”

Mr Cook said Mr Tsang had been “physically assaulted for hours and hours and hours” before he died.

“You could say it’s torture,” he said. “There’s defensive injuries and there’s some suggestion he was actually pleading for his life. It’s very sad.”

Mr Cook said police believed the dispute which led to the alleged crimes was over a “small piece of property” which was of “little value” and not drug-related.

“It’s very concerning, if the underlying motive is a property dispute, that that can escalate to torture and murder — it really is disturbing.”

In court today, one of the 18-year-old men was accused of standing guard with a wrench during the murder.

Detectives have charged three men over their alleged roles in the murder of a teenager in Sydney’s inner west earlier this month

All those charged were refused bail and will appear in court later today.

His lawyer said he was handed the wrench by the 19-year-old and that he was afraid of and intimidated by the 19-year-old.

Magistrate Lisa Stapleton refused his application for bail.

The three men were arrested at a home in Burwood Heights yesterday and taken to local police stations.

It will be alleged in court that the 19-year-old organised and co-ordinated the murder of Mr Tsang.

A fourth teen was arrested and released pending further inquiries.

Mr Cook said the teens all knew each other and had met through online gaming.

Mr Cook said the murdered teenager’s family is devastated.

“They are very upset. They’ve lost their son,” he said. “This sort of conduct, this sort of violence is just not acceptable in our society.

“The fact that it’s perpetrated by such young people against each other is an absolute shame.”

All those charged were refused bail.

— with AAP