The three boys, aged 13, 14 and 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, applied for bail in a children’s court.
All three are charged with the armed robbery of another teen and recklessly causing injury to him, while the 13-year-old and 14-year-old are also charged with a second armed robbery and a home invasion.
A Shepparton police officer told the court the three teenagers and a 14-year-old victim had gone to the old Mooroopna Secondary College oval at 7pm on Friday, August 29.
While there, the 14-year-old allegedly pointed a knife at the boy and punched him, while the 13-year-old also hit him.
They also made him strip off his clothes.
All three allegedly kicked him in the head and body while he was on the ground.
The alleged victim was taken to hospital with concussion.
The 14-year-old told the boy if he told anyone what had happened he would come to his house with a gun, the police officer said.
The 16-year-old allegedly filmed the attack on his phone, and it was sent to the victim.
Two days later, on Sunday, August 31, the 13-year-old and 14-year-old allegedly stole from Woolworths in Mooroopna.
When they were confronted by a security guard, they allegedly pulled out knives.
Outside the store, the pair allegedly confronted another customer, chasing the man down the street and slashing the tyre on his car.
A few hours later, at 2am on Monday, September 1, the 13-year-old and 14-year-old allegedly broke into a Mooroopna massage parlour.
Both teens allegedly had knives as they forced open the lock to a room where employees who lived there were hiding.
They allegedly stole $9000 cash, before spraying the room with powder from a fire extinguisher and locking the workers in.
The court heard the 13-year-old was on bail at the time of the two incidents on charges of aggravated home invasion, burglary and two counts of theft.
On August 7 the three teenagers allegedly broke into a house, with knives and a hammer, looking for a resident, who locked themselves in a room.
The 13-year-old was charged and bailed over the incident, while the other two received cautions.
The police officer told the court the 13-year-old had a history of offending, and had received eight cautions from police, including three for armed robbery.
She also said the boy’s mother had no control over him and was “anti-police”, telling them “detectives deserve to be shot in the head” when they arrested him.
The officer told the court a photo of the 14-year-old holding a handgun was also found on one of their phones, with the 14-year-old telling police that it was real and he and the 13-year-old had both fired it.
The gun has not been found.
The officer said charges were still pending in relation to this.
The 16-year-old’s defence solicitor Shana McDonald said it was not alleged her client had any involvement with the incident at the massage parlour or the gun.
She said he was vulnerable because of his age, and that he had autism, ADHD and depression that he was medicated for.
She also said he had no prior convictions, NDIS support was available, he had family support and could go to school.
The magistrate bailed him with conditions.
The 14-year-old’s defence solicitor Luke Slater argued his client should be bailed as he was young, had no prior convictions, had minimal engagement at school but was able to go, and had the availability of Youth Justice and NDIS support and had a disability.
The magistrate bailed him with conditions.
The 13-year-old’s solicitor Dayna Powell argued her client was young, had youth supports available, it would be difficult for his mother to visit him in custody, and he was diagnosed with autism and ADHD.
She said Youth Justice would also be able to be involved with him one day a week if he was bailed.
The magistrate, however, was not prepared to bail him.
She said he had been bailed only a week earlier and had breached his bail conditions.
“He hasn’t stolen a chocolate bar. It’s horrendous and he’s done it twice,” she said.
“The risk is if he is going to stuff up by committing another armed robbery or aggravated home invasion, it’s too late.”
The magistrate adjourned the continuation of the 13-year-old’s bail application, saying she wanted him to be assessed for intensive Youth Justice involvement, as she did not think one day a week was enough.
