Teen girl on murder charge via new laws

A CAIRNS girl, 17, charged with the alleged stabbing murder of a 22- year- old man is the first person facing such a charge under the state’s new youth justice reforms.

As of February 12, any 17year- old charged in Queensland is handled by the youth justice system as a juvenile.

The Palaszczuk Government passed legislation in late 2016 to ensure 17- year- olds would no longer be treated as adults, bringing the state in line with the rest of the country.

Officer- in- charge of Cairns CIB detective Senior Sergeant Ed Kinbacher said the reforms would not change the way officers investigated.

“The Cairns Child Protection Investigation Unit has assumed responsibility of this investigation as a consequence of that, but fundamentally, it’s exactly the same,” he said. “Certainly I believe this is the first offence of this nature that’s arisen since it’s changed.”

It’s alleged the 17- year- old White Rock girl and the 22year- old Edmonton man had become involved in an argument during a party at a Farmer St home before she allegedly stabbed him in the neck with a knife about 9pm on Wednesday.

Paramedics found the man collapsed in the yard and he was declared dead at the scene.

Due to the youth justice reforms, the victim cannot be identified as it may lead to identification of the girl.

Sen- Sgt Kinbacher said there were five others at the home at the time of the death.

Neighbour Michael Thompson said it was a shock for the quiet neighbourhood.

“It’s a very quiet street ... you don’t expect to see something so close,” he said.