Arabic version: إقرار خمسة مراهقين بالذنب في وفاة جاك ويسترن
According to ABC News, four boys and a girl pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Port Kembla Children’s Court over the death of Jack Westren near Shellharbour Junction train station. The teenagers were aged between 13 and 15 when Mr Westren was fatally stabbed on January 28 last year.
Mr Westren had acquired a brain injury from a 2008 motor vehicle accident. Court documents said his intellectual functioning had been assessed in the “extremely low” range and that his medical issues included messaging girls on social media and asking inappropriate questions.
The documents state that, on the day of the attack, Mr Westren was given a Snapchat contact said to belong to “Amy”, but it belonged to a 13-year-old boy. Messages discussed meeting for sex. The boy later shared screenshots with friends, while a 13-year-old girl was used as “bait” when a group travelled by train to meet Mr Westren.
Another group was waiting at Shellharbour, with some discussing bringing machetes, the documents said. Tamara Doust, 39, is alleged to have driven some of the boys to the mall, where they met others before going to the station. She allegedly took 11 teenagers to the station, including six who travelled in the boot.
Court documents said Mr Westren was assaulted after arriving at the station. People nearby administered CPR until an ambulance arrived, but he died at the scene. Murder charges against the five teenagers who pleaded guilty were withdrawn. Ms Doust, who has not entered pleas to a murder charge, is due in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday. A sixth teenager charged with murder is due to face the children’s court next week.
