‘Your son’s a f---ing murderer!’: Families clash as teens jailed over fatal stabbing of Jack Beasley, 17

Tempers have flared at a Queensland court as two teenagers who fatally stabbed a 17-year-old during a senseless and violent attack were jailed.

Tempers have flared at a Queensland court as two teenagers who fatally stabbed a 17-year-old in a “senseless and violent” group attack were jailed.

Jack Beasley never made it home for Christmas after a night out with his friends in December 2019 ended in a fatal stabbing outside a Gold Coast supermarket.

On Friday, two of the teenagers involved in the attack were jailed at Brisbane Supreme Court.

Angry members of the Beasley family and family of the teenagers – who cannot be named for legal reasons – clashed in court as proceedings ended.

“Your son’s a f---ing murderer!” one woman screamed as the families were separated by security.

Jack Beasley (right, pictured with father Brett) died after being stabbed during a violent street fight in December 2019. Picture: Facebook

Family members and supporters of the Beasleys hastily exited the court and did not speak to media outside.

Jack was pronounced dead on Surfers Paradise Boulevard on December 13, 2019 after five teenagers, aged between 15 and 18, attacked his group outside a convenience store.

He suffered fatal stab wounds to his chest.

On Friday, two of the teenagers involved in the attack were each jailed for their respective roles in Jack Beasley’s killing, with a Supreme Court justice calling the event “gratuitous” and “senseless violence” which had destroyed a family.

The teen who used the knife which killed Jack briefly told the court he was “very very sorry” before the judgment was handed down.

He was only 15 at the time.

The teenager had pleaded guilty to murder and two counts of malicious act with intent.

The other, who was 17, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and several other charges, including grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning bodily harm and unlawful use of a vehicle.

Two teenagers have pleaded guilty to Jack Beasley’s murder and manslaughter.

Because they were under 18 at the time of the offence, they cannot be identified under Queensland law.

James Benjamin, the defence barrister for the then-15-year-old, said he had penned a letter expressing his profound regret.

“There are no words at this point in time that I can say that are going to take away my actions that night,” Mr Benjamin read from his client’s statement.

“I cannot make the family, my family, or anyone else affected feel better or take away any pain I have caused.

“I take full responsibility for my actions and hold myself accountable, but I did not go out that night with the intention to cause what happened.

“I know the feeling of losing someone close and understand there are no words I can use to express that.

“I understand I may never be forgiven, but I hope one day I will be. I am regretful and I am sorry from the bottom of my heart.”

The court was told one of the teenagers, who was 17 at the time, instigated the confrontation with Jack and his group outside an IGA supermarket in Surfers Paradise.

Jack Beasley’s parents and family supporters wait outside court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

The other teenager, at the time 15 years old, “escalated” the fight using the knife.

Jack was fatally stabbed in the chest while another boy who was part of Jack’s group was also injured

“It was gratuitous, senseless street violence … his actions were impulsive, reckless and objectively dangerous,” the crown prosecutor said of the 17-year-old defendant.

The court was told Jack’s death lead to an outpouring of grief along with a “heightened sense of fear” in the Gold Coast community.

Belinda Beasley, Jack’s mother, said she constantly thought of her son’s last moments and asked the simple question: “Why?”

“It was so senseless,” she read from her victim impact statement.

Ms Beasley described Jack as a “cheeky and fun” young man and she would never be able to see her son grow up or have children.

Brett and Belinda Beasley, Jack’s parents, revealed how their lives had been turned upside down since their son’s death during the sentencing of the two teenagers on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

“You ran away like cowards and left Jack and his friend to die on the footpaths,” she said.

“You killed our entire family that day; we’re all just surviving.

“My husband and I will never be the same again.”

Last month, three others involved in the attack were found not guilty of Jack’s manslaughter in a judge-only trial – a decision the Beasleys said left them devastated.

Two were also teenagers at the time, while the third, Ma-Mal-J Toala, was 18.

Supreme Court Justice Soraya Ryan acknowledged none of the teenagers intended to cause serious harm that night but she expressed concern they wanted to get into a fist fight for “something to do”.

“Good, decent people don’t understand (that thinking),” she said.

She said the then-15-year-old was not “scared” or concerned for the safety of his group but was “simply waiting for his moment”.

Justice Ryan said both teenagers had difficult childhoods marked by violence, drug use and mental illness.

The teenager charged with murder was jailed for 10 years and was ordered to serve at least seven years.

The teenager charged with manslaughter was jailed for seven years, with parole eligibility next year.

Friends of murder victim Jack Beasley pay their respects at the scene of the tragedy outside the Surfers Paradise IGA in 2019. Picture: Liam Kidston