Riot charges hit snag

Judge targets juvenile trio from Aurukun incidents

CHARGES against a group of juvenile offenders whose riot in a Townsville detention centre seriously injured a staff member could be upgraded.

Five of the youths involved in the riot at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre last year, who are from Aurukun, were due to be sentenced in the Cairns District Court on Friday.

But the court heard the case had hit a snag because police were considering increasing their current charges of riot causing grievous bodily harm.

The staff member has been left blind in one eye because of the November 10 incident.

Three of the youths who appeared in court on Friday had been in the detention centre after being charged with the carjacking of former Aurukun school principal Scott Fatnowna last May.

The trio, aged 14, 15 and 16, who cannot be named, were all handed detention sentences of time already served behind bars, but will not be released as they await the rioting matters.

Judge Brian Harrison blasted the trio over the attack and subsequent incidents where they broke into Mr Fatnowna’s house, then returned the following night and threatened him and his wife. Teachers abandoned the community following the string of incidents.

“It was a terrifying experience for his wife who herself was threatened. It was also the final straw for the teachers in Aurukun and they left,” Judge Harrison said.

“They left because of what happened and it was some time before it reopened.

“If ever a place needed a school, it’s Aurukun. If ever kids needed an education, it’s at Aurukun.

“It’s people like you lot that actually took the education away from them by your stupid behaviour and your obsession with getting your hands on motor vehicles whatever the cost.”

The court heard the “mob” who carjacked Mr Fatnowna drove the vehicle across the community and caused $14,000 in damage.

The other two teens, who are both now aged 17, were also handed detention sentences over other violent incidents within the community.

The court was told one of them threatened and chased a man with a knife in June last year while trying to steal his car.

The pair were also involved in a series of break-ins in May.

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