An African gang member has faced court after allegedly robbing another teenager at knifepoint in Queensland while on bail for a car theft charge linked to the alleged murder of Vyleen White.
Ms White, 70, was allegedly stabbed to death for her 2009 Hyundai Getz by a Sudanese refugee, 16, in front of her six-year-old granddaughter at Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre in Ipswich on February 3 last year.
The alleged killer, who cannot be named due to his age, was charged with murder, and two other 16-year-old males and a 15-year-old, all of African descent, were charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
One of those teenagers faced Ipswich Magistrates Court on Thursday where Acting Magistrate Rob Turra noted the 16-year-old was a “confirmed member” of the Swish Bound Gorillas gang, and had breached his curfew six times in December alone, The Courier Mail reported.
The teenager is alleged to have been in the car stolen from Ms White, but Acting Magistrate Turra noted he was not involved in the alleged stabbing.
On top of the armed robbery and car theft charges the court heard he has another five outstanding breach of bail charges. He was originally sentenced to restorative justice for the unlawful use of a motor vehicle charge, but was due to be resentenced later this month.
Police prosecutor Bridie O’Shea said the teenager’s bail should be revoked as he allegedly refuses to comply with bail conditions, and the court heard he had only been compliant with 46 out of 75 police checks in 2024, with his parents saying he “refused to listen”.
Ms O’Shea told the court the accused had also allegedly been seen with a group near a stolen vehicle on December 29 and led police on a 650 metre foot chase.
Defence lawyer Matthew Fairclough asked for his client to be released into the community due to a lack of criminal history and the low likelihood that his charges would lead to imprisonment.
But Acting Magistrate Turra remanded the teenager in custody on a new breach of bail charge and revoked bail on his other charges, noting his “utter non-compliance with bail conditions” and the need to protect the community.
The accused will face Ipswich Children’s Court on January 21.
After Ms White’s alleged murder her granddaughter Samantha created a petition, saying the tragedy “has led me to realise the urgency of addressing gang-related and racially motivated violence in our community”, and calling for a “Vyleen’s Law”.
Header image: Vyleen White
