Toowoomba teen released from jail following involvement in Robert Brown death

A teen involved in the incident that led to the senseless death of Toowoomba’s Robert Brown was on bail at the time for the violent robbery of an elderly disabled man, a court heard.

Photographer Robert Brown. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The 16-year-old boy who sat in the back seat of a stolen car when elderly Toowoomba Robert Brown was pushed to his death has been released from jail after serving 499 days in detention.

The Toowoomba District Court heard the now 18-year-old, who was transferred to an adult jail in February, was on bail for a serious offence at the time of the Toowoomba robbery on February 6, 2023.

Mr Brown, 75, was waiting at a taxi rank with a backpack resting on the ground at his feet when he was targeted by a group of opportunistic teenagers.

It was a crime that horrified the Toowoomba community and sparked a statewide crime campaign demanding the state government prioritise the complex issue surrounding juvenile offending.

When the youngest of the offenders was arrested, the court heard he was on bail for his involvement in the violent robbery of a disabled man in July 2021.

However, the court heard the teen was with others at the time and he did not personally assault the man or incite his co-offenders to do too.

The court heard the teen’s co-offenders entered to man’s home before brutally attacking him to the point of unconsciousness.

The crime scene after Toowoomba man Robert Brown was pushed and killed while waiting for a taxi at Grand Central Shopping Center in February 2023. Picture: Peta McEachern

The teenager was sentenced for his involvement of that robbery and other property offences, following Robert Brown’s death.

He was sentenced to a two year probation order for the dated crime in April 2024, and he will remain on that order upon his release from jail.

The teen, who has an eight page criminal history involving property and drug crimes, was originally charged with the manslaughter of Mr Brown, however the charge had since been discontinued.

Photographer Robert Brown. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The young man was represented by Barrister Scott Lynch, who was instructed by Skuse Graham Criminal Lawyers.

Mr Lynch said the teen had an extremely disadvantaged upbringing and was placed in 23 foster homes after being taken from his mother when he was two.

Mr Lynch said while under the state’s care, all but one carer made the boy feel like a “business transaction”.

When the teen pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a motor vehicle to commit an indictable offence at the Toowoomba District Court on Friday, June 21, he was formally reprimanded by Judge Dennis Lynch KC.

The crime scene after Toowoomba man Robert Brown was pushed and killed while waiting for a taxi at Grand Central Shopping Center in February 2023. Picture: Peta McEachern

Judge Lynch, the Crown, and Mr Lynch all agreed the young man had spent more time in custody than usual.

The court heard the teen had basically served 50 per cent of a two year and 11 month jail term.

Judge Lynch said the Robert Brown case was “tragic” and “very sad,” however the teen was not being sentenced for contributing to the man’s death.

He told the teen he had his whole life ahead of him, and no one wanted to see him back before the justice system.

A conviction was not recorded, nor was a restorative justice order imposed.

Once released, the teen will be subject to a probation order for previous offending.

One of the teen’s co-accused is still before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court, and the teen who pushed Mr Brown was sentenced to seven years behind bars, to serve 50 per cent of the sentence.