Teenager who repeatedly stabbed two people in Northbridge fight tried to destroy video evidence

A teenager who repeatedly stabbed two people following a brawl in Northbridge tried to destroy video evidence of the brutal attack just two days after he was charged. Details of the attempt by the 17-year-old to pervert the course of justice emerged during what was supposed to be his sentencing hearing in the Children’s Court last week. The South Perth teen was expected to learn how long he would spend in juvenile detention for the August 7 assault that left a 23-year-old man with stab wounds to his chest and upper-arm and a 21-year-old man with multiple stab wounds to his torso, back and arm. But the matter was adjourned after State prosecutors revealed police had charged the teenager with attempting to pervert the course of justice. Perth’s Children’s Court was told just two days after he was arrested - on August 9 in Canning Vale - the teen, who is on remand at Banksia Hill Detention Centre, tried to delete video footage that related to the assault. It was not revealed what was on the footage, other than it related to the attack that took place outside the Perth Cultural Centre. The teen, who pleaded guilty to the new charge, was with a group of people outside the venue when a fight broke out during the early hours of August 7. The teen’s two stab victims were both rushed to Royal Perth Hospital where they underwent emergency surgery. During last week’s hearing prosecutor Sinead Purvis told the court the State had only just received the medical reports concerning the two victims as well as one victim impact statement. She said she had been informed the second victim also wished to make a statement and asked for the matter to be adjourned. The teenager’s lawyer, Elliott Tilbury, told the court his client wanted to proceed with the sentencing and was anxious to learn how long he would remain locked up in detention. President Hylton Quail said while he understood the teenager wanted to resolve the matter as quickly as possible – and that he was conscious he would be turning 18 soon – because of the new charge and that there was an outstanding victim impact statement to be taken he would have to adjourn the matter. The teenager is expected to be sentenced later this month.