Teen Faces 109 Charges, Denied Bail in Melbourne

A Victorian children's court in Melbourne denied bail to a 13-year-old girl on Monday, April 29, after she faced 109 charges, including reckless conduct endangering serious injury, theft, motor vehicle theft, and burglary. The teenager cannot be identified for legal reasons. The magistrate refused bail after finding what was described in court as an “overwhelming” risk to the community.

In evidence outlined to the court, police alleged the girl had targeted members of the Jewish community in Melbourne, Australia. The court was told investigators found online searches on her phone that prosecutors said were relevant to the alleged conduct. One search, police said, occurred shortly after an incident on March 30 in which she allegedly hit a cyclist while driving a stolen car: “how long the sentence is for running someone over.”

Police also told the court that further examination of the phone showed a separate web search for “where do Jews live.” Prosecutors said the alleged offending included shouting antisemitic remarks and swerving stolen vehicles toward pedestrians. The prosecution further argued that the alleged behaviour had intensified over time, describing an average of 1.45 incidents per day across a 74-day period.

The defence sought bail and pointed to proposed safeguards. The girl’s lawyer told the court that Youth Justice had agreed to supervise her if she were released, and said the client had indicated she was willing to return to school. Despite those submissions, the magistrate concluded bail should not be granted, citing the level of risk presented to the public.

The case is scheduled to return to court on May 4. The allegations remain before the court, and the teenager’s identity remains protected under legal restrictions applying to children’s proceedings.