Teen accused of stairwell gang rape in Adelaide’s Hindley Street released on bail
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Teen accused of gruesome gang rape in ‘target’ jail stairwell as lawyer pleads with court to release 16-year-old on bail
- A 16-year-old boy accused of a gang rape last month has been released on bail
- The Adelaide teenager said he has been ‘victimized’ and isolated in jail.
- He was allegedly involved in the rape of two girls on a CBD staircase
A 16-year-old boy allegedly involved in the gang rape of two girls in a city parking lot has won his supervised bail offer after telling a court he had been isolated and “victimized” in custody.
On Thursday, the boy, whose identity is withheld under state law, faced Adelaide Juvenile Court on charges of two counts of rape over the December 2022 incident.
Sarah Grimwade, on behalf of the boy, asked Magistrate Kathryn Hodder to consider granting him an electronically monitored curfew bond from a homeless youth center in Adelaide’s western suburbs, but Hodder said it was instead a suitable candidate for a supervised bond.
On Thursday, the boy, whose identity is withheld under state law, faced Adelaide Juvenile Court on charges of two counts of rape over the December 2022 incident (pictured, the stairwell where the alleged incident occurred violation)
“He is still only 16 years old and has no issues with prior breaches of orders,” Ms Grimwade said.
“He has been on exemplary behavior over the last month despite how difficult it has been for him during that period of time.”
She said he had not mixed with any peers and has been “quite seriously victimized” because of the allegations.
The teenager, from Alberton, was the sixth person charged with involvement in the alleged attack.
Seven arrests have been madewith six men facing rape charges, while police allege two men tried to pay off one of the victims.
The alleged incident occurred in a car park stairwell on Hindley St, Adelaide’s main nightlife area.
Seven arrests have been made, with six men facing rape charges, while police allege two men tried to bribe one of the victims (one of the defendants pictured).
The defense lawyer for a man co-defendant, whose identity remains hidden, previously told a court that video footage of the incident had surfaced and was being reviewed by police.
On Thursday, Ms Grimwade said she had seen the video, which is not yet before the court, and questioned the issue of consent.
“I agree with the submissions made by other defense attorneys, it certainly questions the issue of consent, and that is definitely a live issue in relation to the matter,” Ms. Grimwade said.
“I can’t make any more submissions on that, as I’m only acting on that and the facts of the charge at this time.”
The alleged incident occurred in a car park stairwell (pictured) on Hindley St, Adelaide’s main nightlife area.
The prosecution’s lawyer did not object to the bail, but asked Ms. Hodder to restrict the curfew on the boy’s bail to 9:00 p.m.
Their curfew conditions were set from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. to allow for an early start to work.
Ms Hodder granted the boy bail with the requirement that he report to juvenile justice services and obey curfew arrangements.
He will return to court next month.
The prosecution also raised the possibility of trying the youths in the matter as adults.
The teenager, from Alberton, was the sixth person charged with involvement in the alleged attack (pictured is the parking lot where the alleged gang rape occurred)