A former TV star’s teenage son charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a 17-year-old to death claims he was defending himself while being ‘carjacked’.
Jaden Martinovich, 18, allegedly plunged a knife into the heart of the 17-year-old in a botched drug deal in North Perth on August 27.
Mr Martinovich, whose mother is former Aerobics Oz Style star Kelly Martinovich, saw the charge against him upgraded to murder after the 17-year-old died on Friday.
Appearing in court on Saturday, Mr Martinovich did not enter a plea but, through his lawyer, insisted he had been acting in self-defence during an attempted carjacking.
His mother, described as ‘Australia’s leading personal trainer’, burst into tears when her son was led away, though she did raise her fist in solidarity with him several times.
Police say dashcam footage captured in from Mr Martinovich’s car after the stabbing recorded him allegedly saying: ‘I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight knowing I’ve plunged a knife into some c…’s vital organs’.
‘That’s awesome, love doing that.’
Jaden Martinovich (left) with his mother Kelly (right), who supported her son in court last week. Ms Martinovich is a 1980s and 90s aerobics star who featured on the television show Aerobics Oz Style
Prosecutors allege that police have dashcam audio from Martinovich’s car on the night of the alleged incident were he is accused of buying a bag of sea salt under the pretense it was the drug meth (pictured, left, with his mother Kelly)
Mr Martinovich was remanded in custody on Saturday and will reappear in court later this month.
Originally, he was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to the 17-year-old boy but that charge was upgraded to murder after the boy’s passing.
Prosecutors allege that police have dashcam audio from Martinovich’s car on the night of the alleged incident were he is accused of buying a bag of sea salt under the pretence it was the drug meth, The West Australian reported.
Martinovich had allegedly arranged a drug deal with the victim on social media before driving to a car park near Bourke St along with two teen associates.
Police prosecutors will allege after a short conversation the victim got in his car and drove away while his two associates were still inside.
Martinovich allegedly then chased the car down, opened the driver’s door, and told the victim ‘get out, I have a knife’.
He is then alleged to have stabbed the 17-year-old in the heart.
His mother is a 1980s and 90s aerobics star who featured on the popular television show Aerobics Oz Style which ran for more than 6,000 episodes on Channel 10 for 23 years until 2005.
It is not suggested Mrs Martinovich is in any way connected to the alleged crime.
Martinovich, 18, had previously been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to the 17-year-old boy after an incident on Bourke St in North Perth about 9.30pm on August 27 but the charge has now been upgraded to murder
Martinovich was granted strict bail with $25,000 posted for bail and a surety of $100,000 after a court appearance last week
Ms Martinovich was in Perth Magistrates Court last week to support her son with the teen’s father Levi
Mrs Martinovich and husband Levi Martinovich refused to speak with the press when they left the court to a waiting SUV.
Mr Martinovich had been granted bail on Wednesday, before his grievous bodily harm charge was upgraded to murder, after paying a $25,000 bond and his parents paid $100,000 surety.
Heartbroken family friends of the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, paid tribute to him after his death.
‘My little brother you’ve grown wings today and showed us nothing is forever we will all miss you till the end of time you was and still is such an important person in everyone’s life,’ one wrote on social media.
‘God has chosen you to be (an) angle to look after all your brothers and sisters and I’m sorry it happened this way but you will be missed by everyone you left such (an) impact on everyone you met.’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk