Teenage boy accused of murdering Dau Akueng seeking bail to live in Queensland

A third child walking home from basketball managed to escape an attack that killed two young boys, a court has been told.

New details about the alleged murders of two young boys have been aired in court as a teenager seeks bail to move interstate.

The now-16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is one of five males charged with murder over the death of Dau Akueng, 15, in Cobblebank on September 6.

He appeared in the Victorian Supreme Court on Wednesday for a bail application as his grandmother offered up her life savings as a surety if he was released.

Dau and his friend Chol Achiek, 12, were allegedly ambushed and killed by a group of boys associated with a youth gang while they were walking home from basketball about 8pm.

Three males have been charged with murder in relation to Chol’s death.

Cobblebank machete victims Dau Akueng and Chol Achiek

Called to give evidence, the detective who led the police investigation said it was alleged the boys were killed in retaliation for another murder eight months earlier.

Another teenager, Kon Hsu Sein, 18, was fatally stabbed on December 20 last year in the nearby suburb of Kurunjang in what police described as a brawl involving up to 40 youths.

The officer said Mr Sein was allegedly attacked by members of the GDG youth gang, made up predominantly by members of the South Sudanese community, and that five people have been charged with his murder.

Dau and Chol, the court was told, were “completely unknown” to the area’s youth gangs, with it being alleged they were killed because they were young Sudanese males.

The officer said it was alleged one of the teenage boy’s co-accused, age 15, was with Mr Sein when he was killed.

The court was told of a third child, walking home with Dau and Chol, who managed to escape when a Nissan X-Trail allegedly carrying the boys’ killers pulled up.

Five boys and three men have been charged over the alleged murders. Picture: Victoria Police.

It’s alleged police located a pair of grey tracksuit pants with blood during the boy’s arrest, alongside images on his phone depicting gang signs.

Representing the boy seeking bail, barrister Colin Mandy SC said it was proposed he would go to live with his mother, who lived in Queensland.

Under questioning from Mr Mandy, the officer agreed the risk the boy posed to the community was reduced if not living in Melbourne where he was allegedly associated with a youth gang.

Mr Mandy argued the boy could benefit from being away from “damaging” influences on his life and would be surrounded by a bubble of family support.

CCTV captured figures running during the attack. Picture: Supplied.

He said his client had expressed a willingness to find work and educational opportunities if bailed.

“It’s important for the community and the system of justice to promote and enhance the prospect of rehabilitation for young people because that’s better for the community and better for him,” he argued.

The officer gave evidence he’d been told the boy had been subject to threats while in youth detention, which he understood to be a stand over to pay other boys “canteen money or rent”.

In response, Crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill argued the boy had not met the bail test of showing exceptional circumstances to justify his release.

She described the alleged murder as shocking and horrific, noting Dau suffered 72 blade injuries in the attack.

Flowers are placed at the scene in Marble Drive Cobblebank where Chol died on September 6. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

Ms Churchill said Dau’s family was “terrified” of the prospect of this boy receiving bail and have sought assistance to relocate from Cobblebank due to fears of further violence.

She argued the risk to the community remained unacceptable and said it was unknown what associations the boy had in Queensland where he would be out of the supervision and reach of Victoria Police.

Ms Churchill said there was no evidence the tensions between the two groups of young men had “abated or ceased”.

Justice James Elliott is set to hand down a decision on bail at 3.45pm on Wednesday.

Originally published as Teenage boy accused of murdering Dau Akueng seeking bail to live in Queensland