Teen guilty of Robert Brown’s death and robbery at Toowoomba shop

One of multiple young men charged with the manslaughter and robbery of Toowoomba man Robert Brown has pleaded guilty to causing the photographer’s death outside Grand Central.

Keen photographer, Robert Brown enjoys capturing the action at the off-road remote control racing group first meeting for 2018 at the Toowoomba Showgrounds. January 2018

A young man has pleaded guilty to playing a role in the manslaughter and robbery of 75-year-old Toowoomba man Robert Brown.

At the Toowoomba Supreme Court on Monday, April 8, the 18-year-old pleaded guilty to manslaughter, robbery with personal violence, and the unlawful use of a car to commit an indictable offence.

The young man’s name cannot be legally published because he was 17 at the time of the crime.

Following the incident, police charged two other men with murder over the attack on Mr Brown.

Keen photographer, Robert Brown enjoys capturing the action at the off-road remote control racing group first meeting for 2018 at the Toowoomba Showgrounds. January 2018

Mr Brown was pushed in the back while waiting for a taxi at Grand Central Shopping Centre on February 6, 2023.

He was rushed to hospital in critical condition, however days later he died as a result of his injuries.

The retiree was robbed of his bag which contained a newly purchased Valentine’s Day card.

During the arraignment on Monday, Justice Martin Burns said the teen pushed Mr Brown while reading from an ‘explanation statement’ provided to him by the Department of Police Prosecution.

“You pushed the man at the taxi rank, he fell forward onto the road, he was hurt from falling onto the road and suffered injuries and he later died of these injuries,” he said.

The crime scene at Grand Central Toowoomba after a 75-year-old was critically injured during an alleged robbery on February 6, 2023. Picture: Peta McEachern

“Before you pushed the man to steal his backpack, you were a passenger in a stolen car.

“After you stole the man’s backpack, you ran back to the stolen car and have driven away.”

The man was remanded in custody and his sentence was adjourned to April 26.