General News
22 February, 2023
Cowardly act - Oakey teens attack homeless man in Toowoomba CBD
Three teenagers, two from Oakey and one from Kingsthorpe, were allegedly involved in the wounding of an 18 years old homeless man in the Toowoomba CBD near the Neil Street Bus Terminal last Thursday night.
Toowoomba Detectives have charged three males in relation to the alleged wounding of the young man.
Police alleged that just after 7pm, the 18 years old man became involved in a verbal argument with three males on Chronicle Lane beside the Neil Street Bus Terminal.
It will be alleged that at least one of the males and the victim were known to each other.
The argument escalated into a physical altercation, with one of the males allegedly producing a knife and stabbing the 18 years old man in the chest, before leaving the scene.
The injured man was transported to Toowoomba Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition with non life threatening injuries.
Investigations led Toowoomba detectives to locate 19 years old Byron Fraser, 18 years old Mullenjarly Pitt and a 14 years old juvenile from Kingsthorpe, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Police allege that Pitt was the main offender, who punched the victim in the chest while holding the knife, causing a large laceration and rib injury.
The victim flagged down a member of the public for help and was taken by ambulance to Toowoomba Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
The incident was captured on CCTV, with police saying it assisted them to identify the accused, who allegedly left the scene in a car.
Fraser has been granted bail with strict conditions including living with his family in Oakey, abiding by a nightly curfew from 7pm to 5am.
He is to report to Oakey Police twice a week while on bail and have no contact at all with the complainant or his two co-accused.
Magistrate Philipson ordered police to provide a full brief of evidence by March with a committal mention set down for both adult defendants on April 14.
The 14 years old Kingsthorpe boy has been charged with wounding and possession of a knife in a public place.
He appeared in the Toowoomba Childrens Court on Friday and was granted bail to appear back in that court next month.
The incident comes as the district held a major crime forum in the Toowoomba CBD, in which residents vented their frustration at the seeming lack of punishment for youth offenders.
Premier Annastascia Palaszczuk has attracted the ire of several residents for attending the Chinchilla Melon Festival after failing to show up to the Toowoomba event which was attended by Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, State Police Minister Mark Ryan and Youth Justice Minster Leanne Linard
Police have reminded Darling Downs residents not to make matters into their own hands.
Groups such as the Oakey Neighbourhood Watch exist to support residents in securing their homes and vehicles.
