Ipswich stabbing: Mum of teenage boy accused of knifing grandmother to death breaks her silence as she apologises to the victim’s family and reveals his last words to her before his arrest
The mother of a teenager accused of murdering a 70-year-old grandmother has broken her silence to apologize but insists he comes from a good family.
Retired Vyleen White was reportedly stabbed in the chest in the underground car park of Redbank Plains Town Square, south west of Brisbanein front of her six-year-old granddaughter on Saturday evening.
Despite allegedly handing her attackers her car keys, Ms White was fatally stabbed and the alleged group fled in her stolen car.
Five teenage boys β all of whom attended a private school β have since been charged in the grandmother’s death, including the 16-year-old killer, who was arrested Monday at a unit complex in Bellbird Park.
It has since been revealed that he was on bail on previous robbery charges at the time of the alleged stabbing.
Sources said The Australian that police opposed bail for the teenager last year before he was later released.
Retired grandmother Vyleen White (pictured) was murdered during an alleged carjacking on Saturday evening
Mrs White was stabbed to death in front of her six-year-old granddaughter (pictured, mourners at a makeshift memorial at the site of the attack)
The teenager comes from a family that came to Australia as refugees from Sudan sixteen years ago.
His shocked and apologetic mother had this message for Mrs White’s shattered family and others affected.
βYes, I think that’s a shame because it’s so bad,β she told Nine News on Tuesday
βI’m sorry to the community because I didn’t know the kids do that.
She also defended her son, recalling how he shouted “I love you mommy” as he was escorted away in handcuffs by police.
βMy family is a good family,β she said.
The teen was charged last year with stealing a car and three armed robberies.
He had a closed hearing at Ipswich Childrens Court on Tuesday.
Acting Magistrate Robert Turra refused the media’s request to attend the boy’s first hearing, saying it would be “detrimental to the child.”
The death of Ms White, a retired religious teacher, has sparked public outrage as Queensland residents call on authorities to tackle youth crime, which has terrorized the state for years.
A memorial gathered outside the Aldi supermarket in honor of Mrs White grew overnight as devastated members of the community left flowers and candles.
Two officers remained stationed at the center on Tuesday after Queensland Police vowed to increase patrols amid mounting pressure for change.
The mother of a 16-year-old boy (pictured during his arrest on Monday) apologized to Ms White’s family but insists her son comes from ‘a good family’
During her apology to Ms White’s family (pictured) and the community, the mother said: ‘I didn’t know the kids do that’
Three African community liaison officers were also on site and spoke to the public.
Meanwhile, Mrs. White is remembered by her heartbroken family as a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who always had time for those around her and went out of her way to make those she loved feel special.
a GoFundMThe organization set up to help Ms White’s family has raised more than $19,000 to date, and a Change.org petition The call for a crackdown on youth crime is quickly gaining signatures.
The mother-of-three was reportedly ambushed as she pulled into the underground car park early on Saturday evening.
Her granddaughter reportedly witnessed the horror attack and screamed for help as the accused knifeman fled in her grandmother’s blue 2009 Hyundai Getz.
Local doctor Ademola Afolabi was the first person to arrive at the confrontational scene of the stabbing.
He had heard Mrs White’s granddaughter shouting: ‘My grandma is dead’ and followed her from outside Aldi into the car park.
βI saw a lady in a pool of blood, she was unresponsive, so I called triple-0,β he said.
“Her pants were soaked in blood, probably bleeding from the chest area.”
Local doctor Ademola Afolabi found Mrs White (pictured) and said: ‘Her trousers were soaked in blood, probably bleeding from the chest area’
Mr Afolabi said it was “too late” to help Ms White by the time paramedics arrived, adding that her attacker “didn’t give her a chance”.
Detective Acting Chief Inspector Heath McQueen previously described the scene as ‘very harrowing’ and acknowledged that although Ms White’s six-year-old granddaughter was unharmed in the attack, it will ‘leave a scar on her’.
βLet’s be clear: this is a disgusting, cowardly, violent attack on a 70-year-old grandmother in front of her six-year-old granddaughter,β he said.
“This is a very confronting scene that we’ve had to deal with.”
CCTV footage allegedly captured four teenagers of African appearance abandoning the vehicle on a street in suburban Springfield Lakes.
A 15-year-old boy was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle after turning himself in to police Sunday evening.
Five teenagers, three aged 16 and two aged 15, have been charged over Ms White’s death (pictured)
The four other teens were arrested Monday.
Footage posted online from one of Monday’s arrests shows officers dressed in tactical gear swarming homes in the suburbs.
They include a 16-year-old from Bellbird Park, charged with murder, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and theft; and two other 16-year-olds, one from Bellbird Park and another from Goodna, both charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
Another 15-year-old was arrested in Redbank Plains and charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and possession of contaminated property.
All five cases are still before the court.