Four teenagers are accused of using a gay dating app to target a victim whose home they allegedly later tried to force their way into.
The four male teens, aged 15 and 16, appeared in Invercargill Youth Court before Judge Russell Walker, each charged with burglary with a weapon.
Lawyers for the teenagers argued that the charge was too serious for the alleged offending and told the court they would speak with police about having it reduced.
The arrests followed a police investigation into four violent and allegedly unprovoked assaults in Invercargill over the weekend of 8 May.
Police alleged youths in separate incidents had lured victims to various locations with the intention of assaulting them.
However, there was no suggestion that the four teenagers in court were responsible for the other incidents.
Police allege victim was contacted on Scruff
According to the police summary of facts, the four teenagers allegedly communicated with a victim on Scruff, a dating and social media app primarily used by gay, bisexual and transgender men.
Police allege that on 8 May, the teenagers arranged to go to the victim’s home in Invercargill.
At about 9.25pm, one of the accused allegedly stood at the front door speaking to the victim, while the other three waited around the corner.
The trio then allegedly threw bricks through the victim’s window.
The teenager at the door is accused of entering the house by kicking his foot through a glass pane in the front door.
The four fled before police arrived.
The teen accused of kicking the glass pane was treated for injuries at Southland Hospital’s emergency department that evening.
Lawyers dispute charge
In court, Richard Smith, who represents one of the teens, said the charge of burglary with a weapon was too high.
Sonia Vidal, lawyer for another teen, agreed.
“When you read the police summary it doesn’t equate to the account of the offence,” she submitted.
Scott Williamson, who represents one of the other teenagers, criticised police for releasing a public statement about the case.
Williamson claimed the statement made it sound as though the four alleged offenders had been arrested in connection with an unrelated assault in Queens Park.
He also called for the charge to be downgraded, submitting that there was evidence the teens had been invited onto the victim’s property.
Judge Walker said those discussions needed to take place between the lawyers and police.
Bail conditions imposed
The teenagers were granted bail with special conditions, including a curfew from 7pm to 7am.
They may only leave their homes during those hours with a parent.
They are also banned from going to the street where the alleged offending took place, using social media or dating apps, contacting one another, or contacting the victim.
A previous statement from Acting Inspector Mel Robertson, Southland area prevention manager, said police were increasingly concerned about the influence of online and social media trends that were “glorifying” this type of alleged offending.
In the other incidents, which are unrelated to the four accused, a victim was allegedly lured to Queens Park on 8 May and critically injured. That incident was filmed.
Another person was seriously hurt in an unprovoked attack on 10 May, while a further assault also occurred that weekend.
The case against the four teenagers remains before the Youth Court.
