Ipswich, Queensland – A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a 70-year-old woman at a shopping center carpark. Vyleen White was allegedly stabbed in the chest at the Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre. She passed away as a result of her injuries. The incident took place around 6pm on a Saturday.
The teenage suspect was taken into custody at a unit complex in Bellbird Park and has been charged with murder, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and three counts of stealing. He is scheduled to appear at Ipswich Children’s Court for his first court appearance. The court rejected applications from media organizations to cover the closed proceedings due to concerns about the circulation of images released by police prior to the suspect’s arrest.
The magistrate expressed concerns about the potential prejudicial effects of media reporting on the case, citing the widespread distribution of identifying material and the defendant’s vulnerability as a 16-year-old. The suspect’s lawyer also highlighted the online vitriol and death threats already circulating, which could further harm the defendant’s case.
In addition to the murder charge, two other 16-year-old boys have been arrested and charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle in connection to the incident. A 15-year-old boy was also arrested and charged with possessing tainted property in addition to unlawful use of a motor vehicle. Another 15-year-old boy was charged with the unlawful use of a motor vehicle after turning himself in.
The arrests occurred following a public appeal for information about the incident and a large-scale manhunt for the alleged offenders. Following the attack, the victim’s car was allegedly used as the getaway vehicle and later found dumped at a different location less than 30 minutes after the incident. The case has drawn significant public interest and media attention due to the severity of the crime and the age of the suspects involved.