Key Takeaways:
- Two teenagers, Chol Achiek, 12, and Dau Akueng, 15, were fatally stabbed in Cobblebank in a retaliation attack.
- The attack is believed to be linked to the December 2024 murder of Kon Hsu Sein, at Kurunjang.
- A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder and applied for bail, which was refused due to the high risk to the community.
- The victims’ families are living in fear, with some seeking out home security and others making plans to leave the area.
- The motive for the attack is believed to be "youth gang culture", specifically targeted at young Sudanese males.
Introduction to the Case
The tragic events that unfolded in Cobblebank, resulting in the deaths of two teenagers, Chol Achiek, 12, and Dau Akueng, 15, have sent shockwaves through the community. According to Judge James Elliott, the car carrying the attackers had stopped alongside a teenage boy walking in the area, making demands of him before he dropped his backpack and ran into a nearby home. The car then stopped outside a fast-food store in Melton South, where six occupants got out and demanded to know if males inside the store were in a gang. When they said they were not, the group left.
The Fatal Attack
At 7.40pm, Chol, 12, Dau, 14, and a 14-year-old friend boarded a bus from Melton railway station, alighting at Bridge Road in Cobblebank at 7.51pm. The carload of armed teenagers had performed a U-turn and pulled up alongside the trio. Five attackers began chasing Chol as the 14-year-old escaped. The judge said the five attackers had caught up with 12-year-old Chol and stabbed him to death. At the same time, two others chased Dau on foot as the car followed closely behind. After killing Chol, the judge said those five attackers had joined in the armed attack on Dau. The group had then fled in the car, the judge said.
Investigation and Charges
The accused applying for bail then allegedly used his grandmother’s phone to order an Uber home. A search of the accused’s house later uncovered a blood-spattered pair of grey tracksuit pants allegedly connecting him to the murder scene. The court heard autopsies had found Dau had 72 injuries and Chol five injuries in the fatal attack. Dau’s hand was also cut off. Police believe the killings were part of a retaliation attack for the December 2024 murder of Kon Hsu Sein, at Kurunjang. His left hand, the court heard, had also been cut off. A 19-year-old Caroline Springs man, an 18-year-old Wollert man, and a 16-year-old boy have been charged with Chol’s murder. A 19-year-old Thornhill man, two 16-year-old males, and this accused boy were charged with Dau’s murder.
Bail Application
The 16-year-old boy applied for bail, which was opposed by Crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill. Churchill said the boy applying for bail had been keeping in company with other young people known to carry machetes, dating back to September 2024. A search of his phone, she said, had uncovered him posing for photos with machetes and using gang signs with others. Churchill said the victims’ families lived in fear, with some seeking out home security and others making plans to leave the area. Defence barrister Colin Mandy, SC, said rehabilitation must be front of mind when considering bail applications for children. Mandy said his client had been threatened in custody, where men aged up to 23 were being held in youth detention, and that he was unable to look after himself physically.
Conclusion and Ruling
Justice James Elliott ultimately refused to bail the 16-year-old, telling the court the risk to the community was too high. The judge’s decision was based on the severity of the crime and the potential risk to the community if the accused were to be released on bail. The 16-year-old will return to the children’s court in February. The case highlights the need for continued efforts to address youth gang culture and violence in the community, and to provide support to the families of the victims. The tragic loss of two young lives has had a profound impact on the community, and it is essential that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.