Avalon Airport: Case against alleged teenage hijacker delayed pending expert assessment

A teenage boy accused of attempting to hijack a Jetstar plane has had his case pushed back pending expert assessment of his physical and mental health, a court has been told.

The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, on Tuesday morning appeared in a Children’s Court, where an update was given on the progress of his case.

His barrister, Amy Brennan, asked the court for an adjournment, saying she needed more time to “properly consider” a report received on October 15.

This was supported by prosecutors, who noted the “outstanding consideration of (the boy’s) mental health” may have an impact on the prosecution.

In July, it was revealed the 17-year-old had undergone brain scans, with his defence awaiting the conclusions of a forensic assessment into any underlying psychiatric conditions.

The teenager allegedly boarded a commercial flight at Avalon Airport in Victoria about 2.20pm on March 6 armed with a loaded firearm and a fake bomb.

Wearing high-vis gear, he allegedly entered the regional airport through a hole in a fence and shouted “I’ve got bombs in my bag” before he was tackled and restrained by a passenger.

Ms Brennan told the court that she’d received reports following the forensic analysis of the boy’s electronic devices “in the last two weeks”.

She also flagged the defence were hopeful they’d receive answers on assessments of the boy’s physical health.

“Those have progressed but not to any point of being useful in the course of the prosecution,” Ms Brennan said.

“A further appointment is scheduled in the next fortnight … he and his care team are hoping that will give a more concrete answer as well.”

Children’s Court president Judge Jack Vandersteen approved the request to adjourn the case, telling the teenager there was still “a lot of work to be done outside the courtroom”.

Judge Vandersteen also approved a request by the Australian Federal Police to extend an ongoing suppression order covering the case.

After reading a confidential affidavit from AFP Commander Nicholas Read, Judge Vandersteen said he was satisfied the orders were required on national security grounds to protect the boy’s safety and for the administration of justice.

Imposed following the boy’s arrest in March, the orders include suppression of the identities of any “foreign entities” the boy did, or attempted to, communicate with.

At the time, the court was told the Joint Counter Terrorism Taskforce was probing the alleged incident.

“Disclosing any lines of inquiry could make those dry up,” an AFP lawyer said.

“It is not about information which is sought to be brought against (the accused teenager), it is really about other inquiries being allowed to go unimpeded.”

The teenager will next appear in court in late November.