Teen spent 10 days in watch-house after falsely identified in armed robbery

A 14-year-old boy was locked in watch-houses for 10 days after he was wrongly identified by police investigating an armed robbery.

Accommodation cells in the boys unit at the Cairns watch-house. Picture: Queensland Ombudsman

A 14-year-old boy was locked in watch-houses for 10 days after he was wrongly identified by police investigating an armed robbery.

Police alleged the Cairns boy was part of a group who robbed a Manunda service station armed with tools and assaulted a 22-year-old attendant stealing her vehicle.

He was originally charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, face masked, blackened, or disguised with intent to commit, armed robbery, stealing, common assault, receiving tainted property and enter premises with intent to commit.

Outside the Childrens Court this week the boy’s mother said he was falsely identified in video footage by police and was at home on the night of the alleged offending.

“He was at home with us that night, the police came and picked him up, no questions asked,” she said.

“He has done 10 days in the watch-house now when he could have been at home with family helping him.”

Charges against the boy were dropped in Childrens Court on Monday after police charged a second 14-year-old boy.

The boy's unit of the Cairns watch house. Picture: Queensland Ombudsman

Police prosecutor Senior Constable James Chapman told the court the alleged offender had now been identified as another 14-year-old boy and offered no evidence.

The Edmonton boy was on bail at the time of the alleged offences and had his application for bail refused and existing bail revoked as a result of the new charges.

“He was on bail on other charges so it would be right to release him again on those same bail conditions,” Constable Chapman said.

During the initial bail application hearing overseen by Acting Magistrate Jon Ide on December 30 the boy’s mother told the court he had been at home with her at the time of the alleged offence and said other people who were at the home were not interviewed by police to confirm his whereabouts.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman confirmed the charges against the 14-year-old were dropped however said he was remanded in custody on other matters.

A new bail application was granted on Tuesday as other matters are progressed through the courts with the prosecution presenting no objection.

The boy will be flown from Caboolture to Cairns upon his release on bail after he was transported south to be placed at the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre.

The boy will appear later this month on unrelated charges.

The second boy faced court on Monday with bail refused and his matters adjourned until a later date.

Originally published as Teen spent 10 days in watch-house after falsely identified in armed robbery