14-year-old boy attacks man with tyre iron and knife in Larapinta IGA car park

A teenage boy and his sister attacked two people with a baseball bat, tyre iron and knife, before leaving them to bleed out. See what they claim sparked their ‘vigilante’ tirade.

The court heard the 21-year-old brandished a baseball bat, while her 14-year-old brother pulled out a tyre iron and a knife.

Armed with a baseball bat, tyre iron and a knife, a brother and sister duo brutalised two people in a supermarket car park in a burst of road rage vigilantism.

A 15-year-old Alice Springs boy pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in December to bashing a man with a tyre iron before stabbing him in the thigh.

Justice Peter Barr said the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was just 14 years old when he joined his 21-year-old sister in the assault at the Larapinta IGA car park in May 2021.

Justice Barr said the siblings were driving along Zeil St, Araluen when the 21-year-old suddenly had to swerve to avoid hitting a woman, causing her to run into the curb and deflate two tyres.

“It seems that you and your sister both formed the view that a male pedestrian had then thrown a rock at the vehicle,” Justice Barr said.

The court heard the siblings, along with another man, decided to hunt down the mystery rock-thrower.

Justice Barr said they assumed a 29-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were involved, and the trio channelled their rage at the pair.

The court heard the 21-year-old brandished a baseball bat, while the 14-year-old pulled out a tyre iron and a knife.

NT Supreme Court Justice Peter Barr. Picture: NT Courts

She started smashing the man with the bat, hitting him four or five times, before whacking the woman repeatedly in the head and ribs.

As she attacked the older woman, her brother started beating the man’s head with a tyre iron before stabbing him in the thigh.

Their male accomplice punched the bleeding man twice before the trio fled.

Justice Barr said both victims needed emergency medical treatment, with the man losing a litre of blood before a tourniquet could stem the flow.

Justice Barr said his sister’s “vigilante” retaliation was completely disproportionate.

“(She) should have known better than to participate … let alone allowing or failing to discourage you, her 14-year-old brother, from getting involved,” he said.

The court heard the 21-year-old was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, partially suspended, while the other man was given a fully-suspended three-month sentence.

The court heard the 21-year-old brandished a baseball bat, while the 14-year-old pulled out a tyre iron and a knife. Picture: John Grainger

Justice Barr said following the outburst of violence, the teenager was trying to forge a better path.

He said records showed the 14-year-old had a long history of being exposed to family violence, with multiple child protection notifications for inadequate supervision and neglect.

“However, you were not subject to any formal protection orders,” Justice Barr said.

He said since leaving Saltbush the young teenager continued to engage with diversion and flexible education programs, with clinical tests reporting he had average intelligence.

“You continued to engage positively with your mentors, participating in group activities, giving back to community activities, work experience and even some volunteering,” Justice Barr told the young teen.

“You have made significant progress while on bail. This court is able to further facilitate and encourage your rehabilitation.”

On December 20, the teenager was sentenced to 18 months detention, fully suspended.

However, Justice Barr left the young teen with a warning to “stay out of trouble”.