Man accused of attacking two boys had 40 police 'interactions', court hears
Prosecutors said those interactions included a string of incidents in which the man was accused of assaulting young children and threatening staff at a primary school.
An 18-year-old man accused of attacking two young children at a Canberra shopping centre has had 40 interactions with police in the past two years, according to a hearing in the ACT Magistrates Court. The man, who has a serious intellectual impairment, was charged with common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm following an incident at Belconnen Mall last month.
During the court proceedings, prosecutors argued that the man must remain in custody to ensure community safety, citing his history of violent behavior towards children and threats against school staff. His lawyer suggested that if released, the man could live with his parents under strict supervision, but the prosecutor emphasized that the community's protection must take priority due to the defendant's inability to control himself and the numerous police interactions.
The court has adjourned the bail application part-heard until next week to consider evidence regarding the man's parents' ability to keep him from leaving the house.
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