WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT The 17-year-old boy was found with gruesome injuries after he was tied to a tree and brutally beaten, while his own mother allegedly ‘laughed’
Eleven people, including six minors, have been charged after an intellectually disabled boy was tied to a tree and brutally beaten, with a court hearing that his own mother was allegedly involved in the attack.
The 17-year-old, who has not been named, was found with serious injuries by joggers in bushland in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia, on July 18. His mother was allegedly among those involved in the assault and was accused of encouraging others to attack her son, with a court hearing she was “laughing” as he was repeatedly beaten.
During a bail application for the woman on August 11, police prosecutor Lescha Lawson said the attack began after the mother made “false allegations against the child” that he was a paedophile.
The court heard the teenager was first assaulted at another location before escaping by crawling away. He was attacked again in the street with a horse whip and metal rods before one of those charged allegedly invited more people to the scene.
The teenager was then wrapped in plastic, zip-tied and placed in the boot of a car before being dumped in bushland, the court heard.
Police prosecutor Lawson told the court that the teenager’s mother was one of the participants and had “encouraged” others to assault her child. She was said to have watched as her son was beaten and said he “deserved it”.
The victim has since undergone two separate surgeries for injuries including a broken nose, spinal fracture, tibia fracture, two lacerations to the scalp and significant bruising.
Three people were initially charged with offences over the alleged attack, before Queensland Police confirmed earlier this week that a further eight people had been charged.
During the bail hearing, defence lawyer Mikaila Ward said there was “no forensic evidence linking my client to the offence”. Magistrate Steven Mosch described the alleged incident as “incomprehensible”.
“It is reprehensible that the biological mother of the defendant was said to be present — if not actively engaged and encouraging others to do so,” he said.
Police documents provided to the court also alleged that methamphetamine had been smoked at the residence before the assault.
The teenager’s mother was refused bail, and her case was adjourned until September. Among those charged is a 13-year-old boy, who faces four offences including deprivation of liberty – unlawfully detain/confine, assault occasioning bodily harm whilst armed/in company, grievous bodily harm and torture.
A 14-year-old girl has also been charged with four offences, including grievous bodily harm, torture and deprivation of liberty. She was dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.
The other accused include a 35-year-old woman, a 40-year-old woman, a 30-year-old man and three 15-year-old boys, who have each been charged with multiple offences.
Townsville Child Abuse and Sexual Crime Unit Officer in Charge Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Miles said only some of those allegedly involved were known to the teenager.