Five teenage boys have been arrested and charged in relation to the murder of a 70-year-old grandmother who was stabbed to death in front of her six-year-old granddaughter during an alleged carjacking in a Brisbane shopping centre car park.
Police have charged a 16-year-old boy with murder, along with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing after he was arrested at a unit complex in Bellbird Park on Monday.
Another two 16-year-old boys were arrested that day and charged with the unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged with the unlawful use of a motor vehicle, along with possessing tainted property after he presented to Ipswich Police Station on Sunday night.
Emergency services were called to the Town Square Redbank Plains underground car park at about 6pm on Saturday following reports of a stabbing. The victim, Vyleen White, sustained life-threatening injuries after being stabbed in the chest and died at the scene shortly after.
A six-year-old girl, believed to be the woman’s granddaughter, was at the scene and assessed but was not physically injured during the incident.
An off-duty doctor, Doctor Ademola Afolabi told 9News he rushed to help the victims when he heard a child screaming.
Late on Sunday, police released CCTV footage alleging four males got out of Mrs White’s 2009 Hyundai Getz and left it in Springfield Lakes, not far from the crime scene, about half an hour after her murder.
Local resident Christine Deason expressed her concern and distress at a police press conference held by Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll at Town Square Redbank Plains on Monday afternoon as the State grapples with soaring youth crime.
“We need fully-trained security here. They want to put police security at the shopping centre, but that’s not enough, they will just end up going to a different centre.”
Queensland Premier Steven Miles called the stabbing a “terrible crime”.
“Nobody should die the way this woman has and our police are taking it very very seriously,” he said.
A GoFundMe has been created for Mrs White’s family which includes her daughter Danice White, who told The Courier Mail there was “a problem” if Queenslanders could not feel safe walking around their own communities.
She told 9News her mum was the light and life of their family, describing her as “the most loving, compassionate and caring person you could ever meet”.
On Tuesday, Detective Acting Superintendent Heath McQueen took media questions on the parents and families of the teenagers allegedly involved in Mrs White’s death.
“They condemn the behaviour and what’s occurred here,” he said.
“Senior police from Ipswich district met with senior members from the African community last night — they condemn what’s occurred here.”
The arrested teenagers will face the Ipswich Children’s Court on Tuesday.
Queensland Police said the extensive investigation remains ongoing.
The problem is that the teenage boys will only get a slap on the wrist. There’s no accountability no deterrent the law is a joke.