A boy who was charged at the age of 11 over the stabbing death of a man following Australia Day celebrations last year could walk free in just two months.
The boy, now 13, was one of eight people to chase and attack Patrick Slater, who was fatally stabbed with a screwdriver in Perth in the early hours of January 27, 2016.
Children’s Court president Dennis Reynolds sentenced the boy to four years on Thursday after he was found guilty of manslaughter.
He will be eligible for supervised release early next year because of time already served, the ABC reported.
The boy (pictured left), now 13, was one of eight people to chase and attack Patrick Slater (right), who was fatally stabbed with a screwdriver in Perth on January 27, 2016
Mr Slater, 26, died in hospital after he was attacked with star pickets, screwdrivers and rocks following a 3am brawl near Elizabeth Quay Station
In sentencing, Judge Reynolds outlined the boy’s ‘chaotic family system and negative behaviour of people within it,’ according to Perth Now.
Quoting a report, he said the child was exposed to drug use and domestic violence within his family, while he was often sent to school without food.
‘Paddy’ Slater, 26, died in hospital after he was attacked with star pickets, screwdrivers and rocks following a 3am brawl near Elizabeth Quay Station.
Police said two large groups were involved in the fight, which involved around 20 people.
CCTV footage showed the then 11-year-old boy leaving the scene carrying a bloodied screwdriver, according to reports.
Eight other people were sentenced earlier this year to between four-and-a-half years detention and life imprisonment over Mr Slater’s death.
Police said two large groups were involved in the fight, which involved around 20 people (pictured: footage of the brawl)
‘Paddy was a son, a grandson, a brother, an uncle, a nephew, a cousin and a friend too many,’ a fundraising page for Mr Slater’s family reads
Three children were among those charged over the death, aged 11, 14 and 17 at the time of the violent attack.
Mr Slater died from a stab wound to his chest which pierced his aorta.
A GoFundMe page was set up last year to raise money for Mr Slater’s family.
‘Paddy was a son, a grandson, a brother, an uncle, a nephew, a cousin and a friend too many,’ the page reads.
‘He was a kind hearted man who touched many lives. Paddy’s death has left his family completely heartbroken.’
‘He was a kind hearted man who touched many lives. Paddy’s death has left his family completely heartbroken’