Stawell assault: 3 teens charged after autistic boy robbed near station
Stawell assault teens charged. Three teenage boys have been charged in Australia after a 15-year-old boy with autism and epilepsy was beaten and robbed near a train station in Stawell on Oct. 5. A video of the attack showed multiple teenagers punching and kicking the victim.
Three teenage boys have been charged following a violent attack on a 15-year-old boy with autism near a train station in Australia, police said. The assault occurred Oct. 5 in Stawell, a town in Victoria, after the victim was reportedly lured to the area through a Snapchat meetup arranged with two girls.
Video of the incident shows several teenagers punching and kicking the boy, knocking him to the ground, and striking him repeatedly as he attempts to get away. One attacker demands the victim hand over his shoes before the group allows him to leave.
Victoria Police announced that detectives charged one 14-year-old boy and two 15-year-old boys following an investigation. Detectives from the Northern Grampians Crime Investigation Unit executed four search warrants in the region before making the arrests.
All three face charges of affray, robbery, recklessly causing injury, and theft. They are expected to appear in a children’s court at a later date. Police said a fourth boy, who was not present when the search warrants were served, will be interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.
The victim, who also has epilepsy, suffered soft tissue injuries and possible head injuries. His mother stated that doctors conducted additional scans to check for bleeding in the brain.
I’m just lucky to have him alive. … He’s having nightmares
said the victim’s mother, adding that her son has returned home but is afraid to go outside.
Superintendent Dan Davison acknowledged community concern regarding the attack and stated that local uniform police and detectives worked to identify those responsible.
Since last Monday, local uniform police and detectives have been working tirelessly to identify those involved and hold them to account, and this important work will continue
Davison said in a news release. He added, There is never any excuse for violence in our community, and we will not accept it in any form.
Investigators are treating the assault as an isolated incident, but police announced that additional patrols will take place across Stawell.
