A 17-year-old boy's guardian is expected to be charged over allegedly orchestrating an attack in which he was bashed, tortured, and left in bushland in Townsville.
The teenager was found by a passer-by walking along Cape Pallarenda Rd about 6.35am on Saturday, July 18. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and required surgery to repair multiple fractures, but is now recovering.
Alleged attack details
Police allege the teenager was assaulted at a property in nearby Heatley before being wrapped in plastic so tightly he couldn't move, loaded into a car, and dumped. Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Miles said the teen was believed to have been abandoned at least five hours before being found.
"He was wrapped, not head to toe, but in a significant amount of plastic, such that he wasn't able to move. He was bound in such a way that he couldn't move," Miles said.
Arrests and charges
The car allegedly used to transport the teen was found shortly after, having crashed, with investigators locating "significant items" linking the incidents. Six days later, a 13-year-old boy was arrested and charged with four offences, including torture and grievous bodily harm.
A 35-year-old woman and a 14-year-old girl were also arrested; the woman faced five charges including torture and grievous bodily harm, while the girl was dealt with under the Youth Justice Act. On Friday, seven more people were taken into custody: two 14-year-old boys, two men aged 30 and 34, and three women aged 32, 36, and 40, all expected to be charged with grievous bodily harm and torture.
Police comments
Miles described the 40-year-old woman as the teenager's "mum, for all intents and purposes," calling her a maternal figure and "one of the principal offenders, orchestrating what's occurred." He said the attack was not random but "orchestrated by a cohort of individuals," and appeared to be an isolated incident.
"There was some animosity in relation to him," Miles said. "Certainly it's concerning, from our perspective, the level of violence that was used and the way in which this young person was left ... but it is not something that is widespread in the community."
He added, "Grievous bodily harm is a significant injury, potential to cause permanent injury or death. Torture is also a very significant charge and something that we thankfully don't see a lot of."
Court appearances
Six of the seven in custody are due to appear before Townsville Magistrates Court on Saturday, with one minor expected to be bailed and appear later. Investigations are ongoing, and police urge anyone with information to come forward.
