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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Teenage boy charged with alleged murder of 13-year-old girl fronts court

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A 16-year-old boy has appeared in Victoria's Children's Court charged with the murder of 13-year-old Layla Jeffery.
  • Layla Jeffery was reported missing on July 5 and her body was found in bushland on July 9.
  • The court heard there are reasonable grounds to believe the accused committed the murder, and the case has been adjourned until September 10.

A 16-year-old boy faced Victoria's Children's Court on Friday, accused of murdering 13-year-old Layla Jeffery. The teenager appeared via video link from youth detention.

The accused has been charged as a single person and therefore as the principal.

— Judge Jack VandersteenDescribing the charges against the 16-year-old boy.

Layla Jeffery was last seen in the western Victorian town of Donald on July 4 and was reported missing the following day. Her body was discovered in nearby bushland on July 9. The court was informed that police found an item believed to be connected to the alleged crime scene.

They will ask you to do it yourself and if you don't, they will do it.

— Judge Jack VandersteenWarning the accused about complying with a DNA swab order.

Judge Jack Vandersteen, president of the Children's Court, stated that there are reasonable grounds to believe the accused, who is charged as the sole perpetrator, committed the murder. The judge granted a police request for a new DNA sample from the accused, warning that reasonable force could be used if he did not comply with a mouth swab. The boy agreed to comply.

Alright.

— The accusedResponding to the judge's warning about the DNA swab.

The teenager, dressed in a black beanie and t-shirt, appeared disengaged during the hearing, slumping and yawning. The case has been adjourned until September 10.

No, your honour.

— The accusedWhen asked if he had any questions for the judge.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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