BREAKING: State prosecutors have urgently called for a review of a teenager’s lenient sentence after he delivered a brutal coward punch to a fellow student at the Ellenbrook Central shopping centre, causing severe injuries. The incident occurred in April 2023, and the 15-year-old assailant, whose identity remains protected due to his age, received a mere six-month suspended sentence last week, avoiding jail time entirely.
The incident has sparked outrage, particularly from the victim’s family, as the 14-year-old victim was struck from behind, resulting in a broken jaw in two places. Eyewitness reports detail that the victim fell face-first to the ground, bleeding heavily from his mouth while his attacker fled the scene.
Prosecutor Rachel Hamilton characterized the attack as an “unprovoked strike” that could have had deadly consequences. She stated, “It was by mere fortune that this did not result in a death.”
The court heard that tensions between the two teenagers had escalated from a prior confrontation in the bathroom of Aveley Secondary College, where both are students. The older boy had received a two-day suspension following that incident and later threatened the victim, saying, “it was on” when he next saw him.
Following the court’s decision, the victim’s father expressed his discontent, labeling the sentence a “slap in the face” for his son. He emphasized the severity of the attack and the lasting impact it has had on their family.
Children’s Court President Hylton Quail is set to review the case this Wednesday, as public pressure mounts for a more appropriate response to such violent acts among youth.
This developing story highlights the urgent need for a reassessment of how juvenile offenders are sentenced in cases of violent crime. The community is watching closely as the review unfolds, with many advocating for justice that reflects the seriousness of the attack.
Stay tuned for updates as this situation develops.
