A teenager who died in a house fire had been threatened by two rival gangs and kidnapped in the months before his death, a court has heard.
Daniel Sheehy, 18, died when flames engulfed his bedroom in his Melton South home in March 2012. Police completed their investigation and found no evidence of arson.
A three-day inquest into Daniel’s death began on Monday at the Coroners’ Court with testimony from his family, former girlfriend and neighbour.
Daniel’s father, Damien Sheehy, told the court that his son had been caught between two rival gangs who were dealing methamphetamine in Melton.
Mr Sheehy said Daniel had confided in him about falling out with both gangs, who were both unhappy that he was associating with their rivals.
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Mr Sheehy said one of the gang’s leaders was outraged after he saw a photo of Daniel on Facebook celebrating with a rival gang member who had been released from custody.
“That’s why he kidnapped Daniel and told him: ‘You work for me’,” Mr Sheehy said. “Daniel said: ‘You don’t tell me who I associate with, I do my own thing’.”
About three weeks before Daniel died, the leader put a gun to his head and bundled him into the boot of his car, driving him to a reservoir, Mr Sheehy said. His son’s kidnappers let him out of the car to relieve himself, and another man shot a gun at Daniel’s feet.
Mr Sheehy said Daniel had also fallen out with the other gang over accusations he had been involved in the bashing of a member’s parents.
On the night Daniel died, Mr Sheehy said he had barricaded the laundry door, which one of the gang members knew to be broken. He also told him not to go into his bedroom.
“He just seemed to have it in his head something was going to happen that night,” Mr Sheehy said.
He said outside court that three men would face charges over Daniel’s kidnapping in the County Court next week.
The inquest continues.
