No bail for accused boys

TWO teenagers accused of a string of violent crimes across Townsville will remain behind bars.

A 15-year-old Kelso boy and a 14-year-old West End boy face charges including armed robbery in company, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and attempted armed robbery.

Police allege that one of the boys was armed with a knife as they threatened a 54-year-old woman in Mundingburra early on Tuesday.

Hours after making off with her car, the group is accused of trying to carjack another person near Thuringowa Central.

The two teenagers were arrested on the Bruce Highway near Alligator Creek about 5pm when police deployed tyre stingers.

In court on Wednesday, the 15-year-old made no application for bail.

The youngest boy was not present in court as his lawyer, Leah Hallum, applied for bail.

At the time of his alleged offending the 14-year-old was subject to bail for other charges including an alleged carjacking. Police opposed the bail application and asked the court to revoke the previous grant of bail. Magistrate Vivianna Keegan questioned how the boy, who had no finalised criminal history, ended up behind bars charged with a list of violent crimes.

His parents made an emotive plea to the court saying the family had been waiting for appointments with Youth Justice support services.

“We are trying our best with him,” one said.

“We are doing everything we can to keep this young boy on the straight and narrow.

“We have accepted every referral they have given us for him … we are waiting for the appointments.”

Ms Hallum said there was a strong case and asked the court to grant bail with additional conditions.

She said he had strong family support, had engaged in support programs and education since he was last released from custody.

She said the boy was “mostly compliant” with his bail.

“This is a young person who if remanded in detention will serve more time than what he will be liable to serve on conviction,” she said.

She said the matter would proceed to a higher court but that if convicted the boy’s punishment would “would not involve actual detention”.

Ms Keegan denied bail and revoked the previous bail order.

“My big concern is that he is an unacceptable risk that he commit further offences that endanger the safety of the community,” she said.

Both boys were remanded in custody.