Source : Perth Now news
A teenage boy accused of murder by allegedly running over a man causing “catastrophic injuries” during a robbery has been ordered to provide a DNA sample.
Oliver Conroy, 27, was allegedly assaulted and carjacked in the inner Brisbane suburb of Kelvin Grove about 10.30pm on July 24.
Charges against seven teenagers, including two girls aged 14 and 15, were upgraded after Mr Conroy died almost two weeks after he was allegedly lured to a location via social media and attacked.
Solicitors for six of the juveniles appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court earlier in August in response to Queensland police’s forensic procedure applications to take DNA samples.
The matters were adjourned to allow police to address clerical errors in the applications.
Magistrate Lewis Shillito on Monday heard multiple teens including a 16-year-old East Ipswich boy were accused of assaulting Mr Conroy.
“The circumstances include … the alleged use of the motor vehicle to dislodge the victim from the roof of the vehicle and subsequently driven over the victim causing catastrophic injuries that resulted in his death,” Mr Shillito said.
Mr Shillito approved an application for police to collect DNA from the 16-year-old boy despite opposition from defence solicitor Alexander Ralston Jones.
“The allegation … places different persons in different locations, including (the 16-year-old boy) as the driver as the vehicle,” Mr Shillito said.
“In those circumstances I am satisfied an analysis might tend to to prove his involvement in the offence by demonstrating he was in the driver’s seat.”
Police will also be able to collect DNA from the 15-year-old female defendant after their solicitor Kris Jahnke withdrew opposition to the police’s application.
Mr Shillito denied an application to collect DNA from a 14-year-old girl who was not accused of being in the vehicle around the time Mr Conroy was assaulted.
He found collecting her DNA would not provided further evidence in the case.
Police solicitor Luke Besse withdrew his application against one boy after confirming they had already obtained his DNA.
Police applications to collect DNA from two other teen boys have yet to be heard.
The seven teens – five boys aged 15 to 17 and two girls aged 14 and 15 – were remanded in custody.
A 15-year-old boy from the group on Friday applied for bail but is waiting for a decision on whether to grant his release.
They are among 11 juveniles charged with murder under new Queensland laws.
If convicted, they face mandatory life sentences with a minimum of 20 years before parole under “adult crime, adult time” laws introduced by Queensland’s Liberal National government.
