Four teenagers have been convicted of murdering a defenceless 16-year-old boy during a violent and brutal street attack in Melbourne.
Declan Cutler was walking alone on a dark street in the north of the city in March 2022 when he was kicked, stamped on and stabbed by a group of eight youths.
He had just come from a party at Reservoir and became separated from his two friends when a stolen Mazda pulled up next to him around 2:30 a.m. on March 13.
The group of boys jumped out of the car and lunged at Declan, stabbing and kicking him as he lay on the natural strip.
After the two-minute attack, the group got back in the car and drove away, then approached him again and took off his shoes.
Declan bled to death on the ground, having suffered 152 injuries, including 56 stab wounds and 66 blunt force injuries.
The entire attack was captured on CCTV.
In February, Victorian Supreme Court Judge Rita Incerti found four of the attackers – known by the pseudonyms SA, DM, QDM and SY – guilty of Declan’s murder.
Four teenagers have been jailed for the murder of defenceless 16-year-old Declan Cutler (pictured) in a savage and brutal street attack in Melbourne
Declan’s mother, Samantha Cutler, was in court on Wednesday to attend the sentencing
On Wednesday morning, she handed down their sentences, describing the attack as a frantic two-minute onslaught of “incalculable inhumanity”.
The boy known as SA was given a 19-year prison sentence, 14 of which will be without the possibility of parole, while QDM is given a prison sentence of 19 years and six months.
After 14 years and six months, he will be eligible for parole.
SY and DM were also sentenced to 18 years and 17 years and six months in prison respectively, but will both be eligible for parole after 12 years.
Judge Incerti recommended that all four boys remain in juvenile detention until they turn 21, at which time they will be transferred to an adult prison.
Declan’s biological father Bryan Beattie reacted emotionally during an earlier hearing
Declan Cutler was walking alone on a dark street in the north of the city when he was kicked, stamped on and stabbed by a group of eight boys in March 2022
The boys’ 13-year-old co-defendant was released from court on September 20 after being found too young to be held criminally responsible for the murder.
Three other members of the group were jailed a week earlier for their roles in the murder.
A 16-year-old boy, who was 14 at the time of the attack, was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder.
Two 18-year-olds, who were 16 when they were charged, were given prison sentences of three and a half and four years.