The 17-year-old Shepparton boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, successfully applied for bail in a Children’s Court.
He has been charged with aggravated burglary with an offensive weapon, possessing a prohibited weapon, intentionally causing serious injury, and recklessly causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence.
He has not entered pleas to any of the charges.
A police officer told the court a 15-year-old boy and a girl had been in bed in a Shepparton house when the 17-year-old came into the bedroom at 5.30am on Monday, February 23.
The 17-year-old allegedly slashed at the 15-year-old several times with a machete, cutting his arm, fracturing his elbow and causing severe lacerations to his thigh and buttocks.
The 17-year-old left, but handed himself in to police at 7am the same day.
The court heard the 15-year-old was flown to hospital in Melbourne and had had surgeries and may have paralysis in his hand from his injuries.
The police informant told the court the 17-year-old had previously been in a relationship with the girl, and that the two boys had previously been friends.
The police officer said when interviewed about why he entered the house, the 17-year-old had said “money”.
The court also heard the 17-year-old had outstanding court matters where he and two others are accused of breaking into cars in Melbourne in September last year.
He also has police matters where he is accused of breaking into a Melbourne house where a car and three electric bikes were allegedly stolen, but no charges have been laid for this yet.
The police officer opposed bail, saying the incident was “horrific”, and police had concerns the 17-year-old would interfere with witnesses.
The 17-year-old’s defence solicitor asked for her client to be bailed, saying he was young and had no criminal priors.
She also said a bed at a residential rehabilitation facility was also available for him immediately, and the court heard he had made requests to go to that facility before this alleged incident occurred.
“It shows he is genuinely motivated to engage with support services,” the solicitor said.
In opposing bail, the prosecutor said this incident was “some of the most horrific offending I’ve seen in the Children’s Court”.
“He could easily have struck a more significant artery and (the 15-year-old) would not be here.”
The magistrate held his decision for two days, before granting the 17-year-old bail.
He described the photos of the 15-year-old’s injuries as “confronting” and said he was concerned that the weapon had not been recovered by police.
“It’s an extremely serious offending and a serious example of it,” the magistrate said.
However, he said there “seemed to be triable issues” as to whether the teen had the machete when he entered the house and whether the injuries were serious.
He also said he had to take into account the teen’s age, the fact he had no prior criminal history, his vulnerabilities in custody, and that he had the support of his parents.
The availability of the drug residential rehabilitation bed was also important, as was the fact he had made approaches to the facility to go there before this alleged incident occurred.
The 17-year-old was bailed, with conditions he go straight to the residential rehabilitation facility, abide by a 9pm to 7am curfew, not contact prosecution witnesses, and obey Youth Justice directions.
He will return to court next in May.
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