Source : Perth Now news
An 18-year-old charged after an 11-year-old boy was fatally shot in the face is distraught and struggling with his first experience in jail, his lawyer says.
Isaac James Bechara remains in custody on remand after being charged with concealing a serious indictable offence following the shooting inside a unit at Norwest in Sydney’s northwest last month.
The 11-year-old boy died in hospital three days after suffering a gunshot wound to his face and neck at the Fairway Drive property on September 21.
Mr Bechara’s matter on Thursday returned to Parramatta Local Court, where the court was told a referral had been made to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The matter was adjourned for two weeks for further consideration. Mr Bechara was not required to appear from custody and his case will return to court on October 15.
Outside court, his lawyer said he had seen his client on Tuesday.
He said it was Mr Bechara’s first time in jail, the teenager was not coping well and was distraught about what had happened.
The lawyer said Mr Bechara had also spoken with his family.
Police were called to the Fairway Drive unit shortly after 5pm on September 21 and found the 11-year-old suffering a gunshot wound to his face and neck.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Police said the boy died about 8pm on September 24.
Three men, all aged 18, were arrested at the scene following the shooting.
Two were later released pending further inquiries.
Mr Bechara was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence.
Police allege Mr Bechara failed without reasonable excuse to provide information that could materially assist investigators after becoming aware a serious indictable offence had been committed.
After the shooting, Superintendent Naomi Moore said several people who had been inside the unit were well known to police.
“A number of individuals that were inside the unit at the time are well known to NSW Police, and their association with organised crime is being considered by investigators,” she said.
Police were also trying to locate people who left the property before officers arrived, while some people who had been at the unit were not co-operating with investigators, Superintendent Moore said.
Detectives had not established how the boy came to be shot and were examining whether the firearm may have accidentally discharged.
Police had also not recovered the firearm.
