Family Erupts After Melbourne Shopkeeper’s De–ath in Alleged Teen Gang At-tack — “Someone Has to Be Held Accountable”
The nephew of a shopkeeper who was allegedly killed by a gang of teens has criticised Victoria’s bail laws.
Van Viet Truong, 60, was understood to be coming to the aid of a fellow shopkeeper who had chased several youths from her store after catching them allegedly stealing clothes.
Mr Truong was allegedly struck in the head multiple times before he hit the ground during the incident on Hampshire Road, Sunshine, around 2pm on August 1.
He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and later died from his injuries, Victoria Police confirmed.
CCTV footage captured the moment Van Viet Truong was allegedly attacked by a group of youths in Sunshine, Melbourne.
Last week, a 15-year-old boy had his charges upgraded to manslaughter and was remanded in custody while a 12-year-old boy and two 14-year-old girls were charged with assaulted-related offences and granted bail.
Mr Truong’s nephew Hung has furiously slammed the Victorian government and criticised the state’s bail laws.
“Sick and tired of this government, p*** weak,” he told Nine News. “You say Adult Time, Adult Crime, well f***ing do it,” he said.
“Now my aunty has no husband. My cousins have no father. Manslaughter, what the hell,” Mr Truong’s nephew said.
Victoria’s parliament passed new legislation increasing penalties for violent crimes committed by minors.
The Adult Time, Adult Crime laws allow children aged 14 and over to face adult courts and adult sentences with maximum penalties rising to life imprisonment for severe offences.
Horror CCTV footage captured the moment Mr Truong was allegedly viciously attacked by a gang of youths after confronting them for stealing.
The footage shows the moment the group – aged between 12 and 15 – flee the scene after allegedly shoplifting.
One boy aged 12 from Brimbank, a 14-year-old girl from Banyule, and another 14-year-old girl from Brimbank have all been charged with affray, violent disorder, intentionally causing serious injury, and intentionally causing injury.
On top of his manslaughter charge, the 15-year-old boy is facing the same offences.
Further investigations led police to withdraw charges against a 13-year-old Brimbank boy.
They were all remanded to appear before a children’s court at a later date.
