Victoria
Three youths bailed over Sunshine shop owner attack
Three teenagers have been bailed while a fourth remains in custody over an alleged attack on a Sunshine shopkeeper.
Three teenagers charged over an alleged attack on a shop owner in Melbourne's west have been granted bail, while a fourth youth remains in custody facing a manslaughter charge.
The legal developments follow an incident in the suburb of Sunshine, according to wire reports. A 12-year-old boy and two 14-year-old girls were released on bail after being charged with a number of offences, including affray and intentionally causing serious injury.
A 15-year-old youth who has been charged with manslaughter in relation to the same alleged attack was not released and remains in custody.
Because all of the accused are minors, their identities are protected by law and cannot be published. Police have not yet released specific details regarding the nature of the confrontation, what sparked the incident, or the exact sequence of events that led to the shop owner's death.
It is also not yet confirmed whether any other individuals were involved in the incident, or if investigators are searching for further suspects. The physical evidence collected from the scene and any potential security camera footage have not been made public by Victoria Police.
The granting of bail to three of the youths comes amid ongoing community concern in Victoria regarding youth crime and bail conditions for minors charged with violent offences. The matters will be dealt with through the state's specialised legal system for young offenders.
The public will watch for the next scheduled appearances of the four teenagers in the Children's Court of Victoria as the prosecution prepares its briefs of evidence.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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