Seven teenagers have been charged with murder after allegedly beating a young man to death in Brisbane in what may have been a “catch a predator” style ambush.
Oliver Conroy, 27, was allegedly lured to Kelvin Grove at about 10.30pm on July 24 by two teenage girls who arranged to meet him on Snapchat, but moments after he arrived was brutally bashed by a group of teenagers while one of them filmed.
Police will allege the group set up the meeting to steal cash Mr Conroy had agreed to pay for sex, and one of the teenagers told a passer-by they were going to “bash a paedophile”, even though the girls are understood to have said they were 18, The Courier Mail reported.
The teens allegedly stole Mr Conroy’s BYD Shark 6, and when he held onto the car, it dragged him for almost 1 km before he fell under its rear wheels and was run over. He was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died on August 6.
Police will allege Mr Conroy was punched and kicked in the head, put in a headlock, and bashed with his own motorcycle helmet as one of the teens yelled out “just get the money”.
A 17-year-old Kelvin Grove boy, a 16-year-old Alderley boy, a 16-year-old Middle Park boy, a 15-year-old Calamvale boy, a 16-year-old East Ipswich boy, a 15-year-old Holland Park girl and a 14-year-old Kelvin Grove girl, have been charged with murder, and faced a children’s court on Friday.
They were originally arrested and charged with lesser offences, but had their charges upgraded to murder after Mr Conroy’s death, and face life sentences under Queensland’s “adult crime, adult time” laws.
The oldest accused appeared via video-link from custody and made kissing and heart gestures towards his parents.
All seven were remanded in custody after having their matters adjourned to September 1.
Another two girls, a 15-year-old from Coorparoo and a 16-year-old from Greenslopes, were charged with attempted stealing and attempted robbery in company and were dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
Header image: Left, Oliver Conroy. Right, CCTV of the alleged attack (7News).
