5 hours ago
2
The mother of the 16-year-old accused of murdering two children on the streets of Cobblebank knew her son had snuck out of the house that night and found him with a sword the next day, a court has heard.
Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard that the accused murderer’s father, who cannot be identified, later took the weapon from his son and stored it in his locked shed, where police later seized it as evidence.
Crown prosecutor Kristy Churchill said forensic testing had revealed blood on the blade that was believed to belong to one of the victims, as well DNA suspected to come from the 16-year-old accused on the handle.
The 16-year-old accused’s mother said the weapon had damaged her car interior as she drove him to his father’s house for Father’s Day.
“Thanks to ruining my seat you absolute f---ing asshole,” the mother texted her son after discovering the knife had sliced her car seat.
“Sorry for that can i pay to fix it,” the boy replied.
The teen’s mother was compelled to provide evidence on Tuesday despite telling a magistrate that doing so would ruin her relationship with her son, who hasn’t spoken to her for four months.
Nine witnesses are expected to be compulsory examined over two days this week.
In September, police charged seven people including three adults and four teenagers over the killing of 15-year-old Dau Akueng and 12-year-old Chol Achiek on September 6 in Cobblebank.
Emergency services were initially called to the scene about 8pm following reports two children had been killed.
Chol was found on Marble Drive, while Dau was located on Cobble Street.
Both of the boys were assisted by members of the public before they died at the scene.
On Tuesday, the father of the accused 16-year-old boy also objected to giving evidence but was overruled by magistrate Stephen Ballek.
The father was shown images of the weapon he had stored in his shed, also described as a knife or sword-type blade.
He maintained he had never seen it until his son arrived at his house and that he had never discussed the Cobblebank killings with the teen.
“I hadn’t seen him for a long time,” the father said. “I took [the knife] from him.”
The 16-year-old watched his parents give evidence via videolink from custody with his camera turned off.
The hearing continues.
A 19-year-old Thornhill man, a 16-year-old Sunbury boy, a 15-year-old Hillside boy and a 16-year-old Sydenham boy have been charged with the murder of Dau Akueng.
A 19-year-old Caroline Springs man, an 18-year-old Wollert man and a 16-year-old Sydenham boy have been charged with the murder of Chol Achiek.
The matters currently remain before the magistrates’ and children’s courts.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
