jessgray
31-07-2006, 12:38
'Baby-faced' youth, 12, robs new mate with knife
By Steve Gee
July 31, 2006 02:00am
A BABY-FACED 12-year-old asked to be friends with a boy of 11 before luring him from a games centre and allegedly threatening to kill him in a robbery at knifepoint.
Weighing about 40kg and barely tall enough to see over the counter of a McDonald's outlet, the boy, who cannot be named, was yesterday refused bail after facing Lidcombe Childrens Court in Sydney as one of the youngest ever offenders charged with armed robbery in NSW.
He was arrested on Saturday night, only hours after allegedly robbing the 11-year-old victim of two mobile phones, a gold chain and cash at Bossley Park.
According to police, the 12-year-old managed to lure the victim from a games centre and then tricked him into believing they were both under threat from a group who were following.
But when the victim asked why they were being followed, the boy turned on him, revealing he was with the group before allegedly threatening to kill him.
The court was told the boy had approached the victim inside the Kaos games centre at the Marconi Club about 8.40pm (AEST) on Saturday asking to be "friends".
After luring the youngster outside to show him "something mad", the pair walked toward the Bossley Park squash court and then fled on to the roof when they noticed they were being followed by up to 10 youths.
But after warning the victim the youths were going to kill them, the 12-year-old turned on the boy as they were surrounded, threatening him with a knife and saying: "I'm with them. Give me your phone and your necklace."
The court was told the young attacker then threatened to kill the boy when he tried to talk him out of handing over his gold necklace.
Told the chain was a birthday present from the victim's sister, he allegedly replied: "I don't care, just give it to me or I will kill you".
With a knife at his stomach, the victim was then warned: "If you tell I will push this knife into your stomach."
The boy was released and raised the alarm after returning to the club.
Opposing bail, Sergeant Allan Treadwall told the court the robbery fell into the most serious category and was "demonstrative of an act of premeditation".
Legal Aid solicitor Rebecca Cowper said the boy had never come to police attention before and would adhere to any bail restrictions.
Magistrate Barbara Mitchell, noting that the boy was supported in court by his parents and two brothers, refused bail.
He will reappear at Lidcombe Childrens Court today.
from http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,19961174-662,00.html
should there be a stricter law on the sale of knives and shoudl those who commit crimes be given harsher sentences?
By Steve Gee
July 31, 2006 02:00am
A BABY-FACED 12-year-old asked to be friends with a boy of 11 before luring him from a games centre and allegedly threatening to kill him in a robbery at knifepoint.
Weighing about 40kg and barely tall enough to see over the counter of a McDonald's outlet, the boy, who cannot be named, was yesterday refused bail after facing Lidcombe Childrens Court in Sydney as one of the youngest ever offenders charged with armed robbery in NSW.
He was arrested on Saturday night, only hours after allegedly robbing the 11-year-old victim of two mobile phones, a gold chain and cash at Bossley Park.
According to police, the 12-year-old managed to lure the victim from a games centre and then tricked him into believing they were both under threat from a group who were following.
But when the victim asked why they were being followed, the boy turned on him, revealing he was with the group before allegedly threatening to kill him.
The court was told the boy had approached the victim inside the Kaos games centre at the Marconi Club about 8.40pm (AEST) on Saturday asking to be "friends".
After luring the youngster outside to show him "something mad", the pair walked toward the Bossley Park squash court and then fled on to the roof when they noticed they were being followed by up to 10 youths.
But after warning the victim the youths were going to kill them, the 12-year-old turned on the boy as they were surrounded, threatening him with a knife and saying: "I'm with them. Give me your phone and your necklace."
The court was told the young attacker then threatened to kill the boy when he tried to talk him out of handing over his gold necklace.
Told the chain was a birthday present from the victim's sister, he allegedly replied: "I don't care, just give it to me or I will kill you".
With a knife at his stomach, the victim was then warned: "If you tell I will push this knife into your stomach."
The boy was released and raised the alarm after returning to the club.
Opposing bail, Sergeant Allan Treadwall told the court the robbery fell into the most serious category and was "demonstrative of an act of premeditation".
Legal Aid solicitor Rebecca Cowper said the boy had never come to police attention before and would adhere to any bail restrictions.
Magistrate Barbara Mitchell, noting that the boy was supported in court by his parents and two brothers, refused bail.
He will reappear at Lidcombe Childrens Court today.
from http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,19961174-662,00.html
should there be a stricter law on the sale of knives and shoudl those who commit crimes be given harsher sentences?