Reintegration into society is the goal of a juvenile accused of randomly attacking a female runner, ambushing her, and raping her.
The juvenile reapplied for bail today following a magistrate’s rejection of his initial application in September on the grounds that he posed an intolerable danger to the public.
On August 14, he allegedly attacked a woman in Jacana, a northern suburb of Melbourne, as she ran along a walking path.
The runner reportedly managed to get away and get assistance from two bystanders after he threw her to the ground and sexually abused her.
A fortnight later, the minor was taken into custody and faced charges of several offences, including as rape, stalking, false detention, assault, and recklessly inflicting harm.
His original bail was denied due to the magistrate’s determination that he posed an intolerable danger to the community.
According to the psychologist, the youngster did not exhibit any signs of substance abuse and did not have any cognitive or mental health problems.
However, the adolescent’s attorney advocated for his release on bond today, stating that a plan had been developed to keep the teen from being left alone and so reducing the risk to the community.
The boy’s family, he informed the children’s court, was prepared to keep an eye on him around the clock and had already made arrangements for him to return to his previous academic and employment activities.
There was no guarantee the youngster would not repeat his history of disengagement from school, according to the prosecutor, who added that police were still worried about the boy.
“Since it was a random attack, the risk and harm to the community is unacceptable,” according to the prosecutor.
Prosecutors also referenced CPS’s evaluation, which found that the boy’s female relatives were not safe at home and hence did not want him released.
The kid was deemed unfit for release by Youth Justice due to the fact that the circumstances surrounding his alleged offense remained uncertain.
However, strict bail terms were deemed necessary by the magistrate to mitigate the risk to the community.
The boy will be subject to regular judicial surveillance, a curfew from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., and a prohibition on leaving the house without an adult.
The magistrate characterized the alleged crime as a terrible act perpetrated against a defenseless community member.
It was her observation that the boy had no history of contact with the police or convictions, and this was his first incarceration.
Although the prosecution had a solid case, the magistrate was not sure that he would get a large jail-term and stated that imprisonment should always be a last choice.
Her warning was that this was the boy’s sole opportunity.
“Any slip-ups at all, you’ll be right back here and will find yourself in custody very quickly,” according to the judge.
Next Monday, the youngster must appear before a children’s court again.
