Declan Cutler, Tarneit stabbing , Melbourne: Teenager who fatally stabbed boy, 16, in the throat in ‘frenzied, savage and totally unprovoked’ attack learns his fate

A child will spend up to 15 years behind bars for stabbing a knife into a 16-year-old during a gang attack and then returning to trample the dying boy.

The killer was 14 years old when he and a gang of eight teenagers attacked Declan Cutler as he left a birthday party in Melbourne’s north in March 2022.

The group had previously met at a house in Tarneit before driving a stolen Mazda to the Reservoir party after seeing a series of hostile videos posted online by a rival gang.

In the early hours of March 13, Declan became separated from his friends as they left the party.

He was walking alone and defenseless through the dark street when the Mazda stopped.

Eight teenagers with four knives got out of the car and started chasing Declan, who was not affiliated with either gang.

He tried to run away, but the group dragged his sweater to the ground and two began stabbing him.

Others joined in the two-minute attack, repeatedly kicking, stamping and stabbing Declan as he lay on the nature strip.

The teenagers left in the car, but then returned briefly to stomp Declan again and take his shoes.

Local residents were woken by screams and shouts outside their homes and called for triple zero.

Declan bled to death on the ground after suffering 152 wounds, including 56 stab wounds and 66 blunt force wounds.

After they fled, one of the eight teens looked up photos of Declan on social media and then searched the internet for the question: “Is hell guaranteed for Muslims who commit murder?”

The teenager was one of eight people involved in the attack on Declan (pictured) and one of three who pleaded guilty to the attack in the Supreme Court of Victoria via video link on Tuesday.

Three members of the group appeared in Victoria’s Supreme Court via video link on Tuesday, where they were jailed for the attack.

“The attack was frenzied, vicious and completely unprovoked,” Judge Elizabeth Hollingworth said.

“It was unprovoked and brutal violence against an unarmed teenager, who was trying to run away at the time.”

She described the CCTV footage of the murder as ‘absolutely shocking in its brutality’.

The second youngest of the group was given a prison sentence of up to 15 years after pleading guilty to murder.

He admitted stabbing, kicking and stamping on Declan and removing one of his shoes.

The now 16-year-old boy started carrying a knife in public in 2020 for ‘self-protection’ after a friend was killed in a knife attack.

The judge recommended that the adult parole board keep the boy in the juvenile justice system until he is 21.

Declan’s friends and family sat patiently in the courtroom during the sentencing, wearing T-shirts that read: ‘In loving memory of D-Jays, forever in our hearts’ (file photo)

He has already served a year and four months of his sentence and must serve at least another 10 before he can apply for parole.

An 18-year-old, who was 16 at the time and pleaded guilty to manslaughter for being armed with a knife and stamping on Declan, was sentenced to four years in youth detention.

A third teenager, of the same age, admitted kicking Declan after pleading guilty to causing serious injury with intent.

He was given a juvenile detention of three and a half years.

Judge Hollingworth slammed knife crime and said the wider community needed ‘protection and to feel safe’.

“Sadly, violent knife crimes committed by young offenders have become far too common,” she said.

Supporters of Declan sat in court for the sentencing, wearing T-shirts that read: ‘In loving memory of D-Jays, forever in our hearts’.