Police say Ms White had been grocery shopping and was near her car when the random attack took place. (Facebook: Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding)

Last year, the 17-year-old boy, who cannot legally be named, pleaded guilty to murder and several other offences including the unlawful use of Ms White’s car.

At his sentencing in November, the court heard the teenager, then aged 16, stabbed the 70-year-old in the chest at an underground car park at a Redbank Plains shopping centre in February 2024.

Following the attack, which was witnessed by Ms White’s young granddaughter, the teenager stole her car and fled the area.

Today, his legal team appealed the sentence on two grounds.

The first ground was “one specific” error made by the sentencing judge, and the second was that the 16-year term was manifestly excessive.

Vyleen White was stabbed in the chest in 2024.  (Supplied)

Defence lawyer Matthew Hynes told the Court of Appeal in Brisbane that the first ground related to the chief justice’s assessment of the duration of which an intention of grievous bodily harm was held by his client.

He said a submission he made at the time that his client acted in a “moment of madness” should not have been rejected.

“There could have been an error in the way in which she approached that submission,” he said.

However, Justice John Bond, who is one of the three judges hearing the appeal, disagreed with this argument.

“No, that’s not your ground, your ground is not error of fact or error of finding,” he said.

“Your ground is failed to take it into account.”

‘Deliberate and determined’ offending

The court heard at the time of sentencing, the chief justice made a finding that the action of stabbing Ms White was not premeditated.

However, Mr Hynes also pointed to her use of the phrase “deliberate and determined” to describe his client’s offending, to support his argument.

Justice David Boddice, who is also presiding over the appeal, told the court it was clear these words were used when comparing the teen’s use of the knife to that of the teen who killed North Lakes woman Emma Lovell.

Vyleen and Victor White with daughter Cindy Micallef. (Supplied)

He said the chief justice was noting the difference between Ms White’s killer “plunging” his weapon, as opposed to Ms Lovell’s killer “lashing out” with his.

“In that case, the person initially was leaving the house and being pursued by the person who was ultimately stabbed,” he said.

“The chief justice was drawing the obvious distinction between that and the grandmother who’s got her hands up, backing away, who was stabbed.

“One can understand using the expression ‘deliberate’ in those circumstances.”

No direct comparable cases

Mr Hynes told the court the term of 16 years was manifestly excessive, as there were no direct comparable cases for a “single stab” killing during a robbery.

“It is a very high sentence in our submission given all the circumstances,” he said.

“In this state, it is the highest sentence for such conduct for a 16-year-old.”

Mr Hynes accepted the stabbing was “callous” and warranted a significant punishment, but said the 16-year term “goes so far beyond” the sentencing discretion, compared to other juvenile murder sentences of 15 years or less.

In opposing the appeal, director of public prosecutions Todd Fuller KC told the court there was no error of law, and said the sentence was “well short” of being manifestly excessive.

“The sentence properly reflects the tension that exists between the need to protect the community and the sentencing of a young offender for the serious offence of murder,” he said.

Mr Fuller told the court the defence’s “moment of madness” phrasing was a term that was “unhelpful in the circumstances”, given the teenager accepted he had acted with an intention to cause Ms White grievous bodily harm.

“The strike to the heart with a knife is consistent with carrying out that intention,” he said.

“CCTV captures the very deliberate and intentional act.”

Mr Fuller told the court when comparing the 16-year term to other recent juvenile murder sentences, including Ms Lovell’s killer who received 14 years, he said it was not plainly unjust.

He said it was open for the chief justice to find Ms White’s killer’s offending was more serious, as the teen was not responding to a threat or involved in a struggle or lashing out to get away.

The appeal decision has been reserved.

‘Another tough day’

Ms White’s daughter Cindy Micallef told the ABC Tuesday was “another tough day for our family”.

“I would be extremely surprised if they went against her chief justice’s original decision; only time will tell,” she said

“I believe there will be community outrage if the original decision was to be overturned.”

Ms Micallef said the past two years had been “a gruelling and traumatic experience for our family with countless hurdles faced”.

“We are hoping the original decision will be upheld,” she said.

SOURCE: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-10/qld-vyleen-white-murder-appeal-court/106435698