Carjack pair get release on probation

TWO Far Northern youths have avoided further time in detention for a raft of offences including a terrifying attempted carjacking while trying to evade police.

The boys, aged 15 and 16, had already spent more than eight months in custody awaiting sentence.

They each pleaded guilty in the Children’s Court of Queensland to dozens of property and dishonesty charges committed together and separately, the most serious of which was the attempted car jacking in November last year.

The two teens and an adult, who hasn’t been sentenced yet, drove a stolen vehicle for about 300m on the wrong side of the Bruce Highway at Edmonton forcing multiple vehicles to swerve out the way.

The court was told that police had used tyre spikes on the car but it continued to drive, shifting to the wrong side of the road. When another vehicle stopped to avoid a collision, the stolen vehicle also stopped and the trio tried to hijack the car with the adult becoming involved in a scuffle with the driver while a woman passenger screamed.

The mother of one of the boys sat in court making disruptive and disrespectful comments throughout the lengthy proceedings.

The court was told both boys had dysfunctional upbringings including domestic violence and substance misuse.

One of the boys had only attended school for a total of 12 weeks since he was 11.

Judge Dean Morzone QC said that a custodial sentence was the only appropriate penalty placing each on a term of 514 days detention.

However, he opted to grant the pair an immediate conditional release because they had already served a lengthy time behind bars. To ensure they stayed on a lawful path he also placed them on 18 months and two years probation.

Convictions were not recorded. “Don’t underestimate this further chance,” Judge Morzone said. Head of Produce Products may not be available in all stores, Woolworths Metro, Woolworths Online or at Caltex Woolworths co-branded fuel outlets. WP300719Q1A