Prosecutors urge review of Ellenbrook coward-puncher’s sentence

State prosecutors have requested the head of WA’s Children’s Court review the sentence handed to a teenager who punched a fellow student from behind at Ellenbrook Central shopping centre, breaking his jaw in two places.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, avoided jail over the assault last week after receiving a six-month suspended sentence.

Perth Children’s Court heard the 14-year-old victim, who also cannot be identified, was at the shops with friends in April when he was struck from behind, causing him to hit the floor face-first.

The teenager was bleeding heavily from his mouth as he tried to get to his feet, the court was told, while his attacker fled the scene after being confronted by shoppers.

The court was told the attack had its genesis three weeks earlier, when the younger boy was confronted in the bathroom at Aveley Secondary College, where both were students, in an incident that resulted in the older boy being suspended for two days.

The 15-year-old told police after the attack he had said to the younger boy “it was on” when he saw him next.

Prosecutor Rachel Hamilton described the shopping centre attack as “a strike that came from behind – the accused had run at the victim,” and it was by mere fortune it did not result in a death.

The 14-year-old’s father labelled the sentence a “slap in the face” outside court.

Children’s Court President Hylton Quail is set to review the sentence on Wednesday.

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