Family, friends and supporters of the 16-year-old boy allegedly murdered at a housing commission home in Sydney gathered for a moving candlelight vigil on Friday evening.
The boy was allegedly stomped and bashed to death in a gang attack at a Doonside house, leading to a murder charge for six teenagers, one of whom appeared in Parramatta Children’s Court on Friday.
Hundreds of balloons, floral bouquets and messages of support – including calls to end violence – were pinned to the house and front fence, as people gathered with candles at dusk and spoke softly while music played.
Family, friends and supporters of the 16-year-old boy allegedly murdered at a housing commission home in Sydney have gathered for a moving and vibrant candlelight vigil on Friday
Incredible gesture: Doonside locals have covered the fence of the housing commission home with balloons, bouquets of flowers and candles – and are demanding ‘justice’ for the boy
Hundreds of balloons, floral bouquets and messages of support – including calls to end violence – were pinned to the balustrade of the house and its front fence, as people gathered lit candles at dusk and talked while music was played
The teenage boy was left brain dead, with two collapsed lungs and trauma to his face and body after the alleged bashing.
He died in hospital on Saturday August 8, three days after the alleged attack.
One placard attached to the Doonside house was a plea to ‘stop the violence’, while another called for justice for the dead boy, whose photo was prominently displayed.
One person left a heart-wrenching poem titled ‘You Never Said Goodbye’.
‘If love alone could have saved you, you would have never died,’ one line read.
The Doonside property where the 16 year old boy was allegedly bashed was covered in heart-breaking and colourful tributes
Children were at the vigil and support shown for the boy who was allegedly murdered
‘In life your mum loved you dearly, in death she loves you still. In her heart you hold a place that no-one could ever fill,’ the poem continued.
‘It broke her heart to lose you, but you didn’t go alone. For part of her went with you, the day you grew your wings.’
The front door of the house where the boy was allegedly bashed was boarded up with several rows of tealights, arranged into a cross, burning brightly in front of it.
The community rallied in support of the family and friends of the boy, who was allegedly murdered in a vicious gang bashing last week
Locals, family and friends lit candles in tribute to the dead boy
An emotionally charged poem was pinned to the front fence of the Doonside home
Locals, supporters, friends and family brought gifts and tributes big and small to the Doonside house
‘Thank you just being here really, and anyone who has contributed, thank you immensely’ one woman announced to the people gathered.
‘His family and friends would appreciate it. It’s obviously an emotional time for everyone.
‘Let’s just take this opportunity to set a better influence.’
The people gathered gave three cheers for the deceased teen and released balloons in his name as one woman called out ‘Rest in peace, little man’.
Doonside locals joined the emotional vigil to show support for the boy’s family and friends.
The front door of the house where the boy was allegedly bashed was boarded up with several rows of tealights, arranged into a cross, burning brightly in front of it
Bouquets of flowers were pinned to the front fence of the Doonside property during the week and on Friday
The colourful tributes were part of a huge show of solidarity and support for the family and friends of the dead boy
Earlier on Friday, a ‘caring and polite’ boy, 14, was accused of striking the victim 52 times in an alleged fatal pack bashing at a housing commission home in Sydney’s west, a court heard.
A 16-year-old boy (above) died on Saturday, days after allegedly being beaten by six teenagers – including a 14-year-old who allegedly struck him 52 times
The accused boy, dressed in a collared shirt and jumper, sat up straight as he appeared in Parramatta Children’s Court on Friday, days after and five others were charged with the 16-year-old’s murder.
The young man is the second youngest of four teenage boys and two girls who allegedly took turns assaulting the cowering child in Doonside last Wednesday.
Police allege the ‘extremely vicious’ assault – which allegedly saw the boy stomped and jumped upon – occurred because the teens sought ‘gang notoriety’ in a conflict between western Sydney post codes.
Police allege the incident came about after the now-dead boy allegedly stole a pair of Apple AirPod headphones and was then lured to the address with the promise of a party.
During a bail hearing, Magistrate Stuart Devine heard teenagers cried out ‘finish him’, ‘pick him up, I’m going to f***ing throw him through the wall’ and ‘go hard, don’t stop until he is f***ing knocked out c***’.
Incredible gesture: Doonside locals have covered the fence of the housing commission home with balloons, bouquets of flowers and candles – and are demanding ‘justice’ for the boy
Balloons cover the western Sydney home’s simple fence in a moving act of kindness from grieving residents
Prosecutors told the court that almost 24 hours after the incident, the 14-year-old accused boy attended Granville police station wearing similar clothing.
The magistrate was told the boy had scratches and cuts on his hands and a small amount of blood to his shoes, and his release posed an unacceptable risk.
Defence barrister AJ Karim accepted the boy was at the crime scene, but argued there were several inherent flaws in the police case.
‘This is a really sad matter… the attack was gruesome. I’ve watched all three footages and I think I’ll be lightly putting it if I describe it as horrendous.
‘It is terrible. It is truly a stain on our community for an offence like this to occur.’
The sixteen-year-old boy (above) died at Westmead Hospital on Saturday after he was allegedly brutally bashed at a home in Doonside three days prior
Mr Karim said the accused boy didn’t look like the child who was captured allegedly beating the teenager in mobile phone footage.
The respected barrister asked Magistrate Devine to compare screenshots of the incident with the boy seen in court.
‘In my respectful submission: those two do not look alike,’ Mr Karim said.
Mr Karim also demanded to know how police could claim the boy had blood on his shoes at the police station.
‘How can the police possibly say that without any documentary evidence or analysis?’ he asked.
Defence barrister AJ Karim and solicitor Michelle Karim argued the boy could be released on strict conditional bail akin to house arrest
Mr Karim and solicitor Michelle Karim sought for the boy to be released on strict house arrest conditions while awaiting trial.
The child, who is blind in one eye, was described as ‘caring and polite’ in a letter from a Glebe youth worker, and the allegations as wildly out of character.
But Magistrate Devine refused the bail application, saying he wasn’t persuaded the prosecution case was weak.
Outside court solicitor Ms Karim said the matter was ‘very serious’.