Vyleen White: Grandmother’s alleged murder shows young offenders should be treated like adults, expert says
The killing of grandmother Vyleen White has renewed scrutiny of Queensland’s youth justice system, as one shocking picture emerges.
The alleged murder of grandmother Vyleen White by a 16-year-old boy out on bail for another offence shows young offenders should be treated the same as adults for serious crimes, a senior legal expert says.
Ms White was stabbed to death in a shopping centre carpark in Redbank Plains on Saturday night, in what police believe was a carjacking.
Her death has caused outrage across the country, with it being revealed that the boy who allegedly murdered the 70-year-old was on bail for armed robbery at the time.
The Bellbird Park boy is facing up to 10 years in prison, if found guilty, as he is a minor.
The courts are able to impose a longer sentence for acts of violence or “particularly heinous” offences.
Four other boys, aged between 15 and 16, were also arrested and charged with vehicle theft and property offences.
In images from one of the arrests, the teenage boy towered over the police officers taking him into custody.
In Queensland, young people are dealt with through the youth justice system until they turn 18.
The previous cut off was 17 before laws were changed in 2018.
Terry Goldsworthy, an academic from Bond University and former detective, believes young people should be prosecuted for offences like murder to the same extent as adults.
“I think an offence like this, they should be held accountable as an adult would be,” he said.
Dr Goldsworthy said a there was a “lack of public confidence” in Queensland’s youth justice system.
“I don’t think it is working,” he said.
Dr Goldsworthy pointed to data showing more than 50 per cent of youth offenders were released on bail, with seven per cent of those going on to commit offences resulting in serious injury or death.
“We continue to have these people released into the community when clearly they’re not safe.”
There have been calls from the community to introduce tougher sentences for minors charged with offences such as murder, with Ms White’s family vowing to campaign.
Members of Voice for Victims, an advocate group for people impacted by child crime, have been calling online for a protest march to highlight their grievances with the youth justice system.
Data from the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council showed six young offenders were sentenced for murder between 2005 and 2016, with sentences of eight, 10, 12 and 14 years and two life sentences imposed respectively.
Dr Goldsworthy said the government should consider new mandatory sentences for violent crimes committed by youth, even if it is a short-term measure to allow police to “get a handle” on the issue.
Youth crime has been a focus of the Queensland government in recent years, following a string of high-profile incidents committed by children.
Tough new laws were introduced last year which reversed the burden of proof onto an offender in bail applications, and introduced longer sentences for car thefts.
The changes attracted criticism from youth advocates who said the new laws were reactive and did not address the underlying causes of crime among young people.
Data from 2022 showed just 18 per cent of offenders in the state were under the age of 18 – but that cohort made up 50 per cent of break and enter, robbery and stolen vehicle offences.
The number of youth offenders in the stolen vehicle category almost doubled in the 10 years to 2022.
The 2021-2022 Queensland Crime Report showed a 10-year high number of 52,742 youth offenders, with a 13.7 per cent increase in the number charges laid against children aged 10 to 17 compared to the previous year.
However, nearly half of youth offences were committed by children declared “serious repeat offenders” by Queensland courts, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Premier Steven Miles was grilled over the government’s response to youth crime at an event on Tuesday night, following an interview on A Current Affair featuring Ms White’s husband Victor.
In the interview, Mr White called politicians “spineless” and demanded justice for his wife.
Mr Miles said he understood the viewpoint of an “angry, grieving” Mr White and added he would not rule out further changes to youth justice laws.
“But nobody can seriously stand up and say they could of prevented this (alleged) murder,” he said.
Mr Miles on Wednesday said he would speak to the Attorney-General about allowing media greater access to the children’s courts.
Unlike in the adult justice system, magistrates must approve access to reporters seeking to enter court rooms to observe children’s matters.
It came after reporters were denied access to hearings for several of the young people charged as part of the investigation into Ms White’s death.
“My opinion is that where reporters can be in those courts, I think magistrates should let them,” Mr Miles said.
“I think at the moment, magistrates are erring too much on the side of not allowing journalists in.”