Two severed left hands allegedly tie the killings of two children and a teen.
A youth gang was specifically targeting Sudanese males to seek revenge for Kon Hsu Sein’s murder when they attacked two boys, prosecutors allege.
Mr Sein, 18, died in December 2024 after a bloody brawl in Kurunjang, in Melbourne’s outer west, with five people charged over his alleged murder.
About nine months later Chol Achiek, 12, and Dau Akueng, 15, were set upon by a group of males as they walked home from a basketball match in Cobblebank, in the city’s outer northwest, on September 6.
Eight young men, aged 15 to 19, are charged with their murders and the youngest applied for bail at Melbourne’s Supreme Court on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Christie Churchill SC said police investigators believe Chol and Dau were killed by a youth gang “specifically targeting Sudanese males” over Mr Sein’s killing.
Those accused of Chol and Dau’s “incredibly violent and horrific” killing did not know the two children, she alleged.
Detective Jarrad Brookman told the court one of the co-accused in the Cobblebank double murder was present when Mr Sein was killed by the GBG gang, which comprised South Sudanese men.
Asked whether there were similarities between the injuries suffered by each of the victims, he said: “Yes, Kon’s left hand was severed, in this situation Dau’s left hand was severed.”
Ms Churchill argued the motive for the murder was “retribution, revenge” as she opposed the 15-year-old boy’s release on bail because he presented a risk to community safety.
“There’s no evidence or no information that those tensions have abased or ceased,” she said.
“There was a child that was present with the two deceased in this matter, who managed to get away, there is potential risk to him.”
The families of Dau and Chol remain “terrified” after their killing and had obtained home security or moved homes in the months since, she said.
Ms Churchill said the prosecution had a “very strong circumstantial case” against the teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Blood found on grey tracksuit pants seized from the teen’s home allegedly connected him to the murder, and he was seen on CCTV carrying a machete and near the location of the attack, she alleged.
However, the child’s barrister Colin Mandy SC said his client should be bailed as conditions, including him moving to Queensland to live with his parents, would ameliorate any risk.
His grandmother told the court she was willing to hand over her life savings of $100,000 as surety to secure his release.
Mr Mandy said it could take 18 months to two years for his client to face trial, due to the number of co-accused, and questioned the strength of the prosecution’s evidence against him.
“A conviction for murder is not inevitable … the court must consider all the options before remanding a child in custody,” he said.
Justice James Elliott will hand down his bail decision on Wednesday afternoon.
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