UPDATE: Two teenagers have been charged in the shocking stabbing murder of Kaiden Morgan, an 18-year-old Indigenous man, following a violent incident in Morwell, Australia. The court has been informed that one of the accused, Tyson Fenton, fears retaliation while in custody, raising urgent concerns about his safety.
The alleged attack occurred on Saturday night, where Morgan was found with stab wounds on The Boulevard—a residential street in the Gippsland town—before succumbing to his injuries shortly after being transported to the hospital. Another victim, a 20-year-old from Warragul, was discovered nearby with injuries but has survived.
Fenton, 19, and a 16-year-old boy appeared in Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Monday, facing serious charges of murder and intentionally causing serious injury. Fenton, appearing remotely from custody, made no bail application. His lawyer, Ben Lewtas, requested to shorten the timeline for police to hand over evidence from 12 weeks to 6 weeks, but the request was denied by Magistrate Tony Burns.
Details in court revealed that Fenton has no prior criminal history and exhibits vulnerability due to his age. Lewtas expressed that Fenton is concerned about potential retaliation from other inmates. “There is an inherent vulnerability that comes with that age, Your Honour,” Lewtas stated. Furthermore, Fenton requires an inhaler for asthma and possibly suffers from an intellectual disability.
The emotional weight of the case was palpable, with Fenton’s family present in court, including his mother and sister, who shared a moment of connection before the video link was severed. Fenton is set for a committal mention on February 10. His co-accused, whose name cannot be disclosed due to legal reasons, is expected to appear at the Melbourne Children’s Court on October 17.
Authorities believe the four males involved were known to each other, prompting further investigation. Morgan had recently been highlighted in an ABC feature about a local Aboriginal dance group called the Boorun Boys, expressing his passion for dance and his hopes for its future.
In response to the tragic loss of Morgan, Premier Jacinta Allan emphasized the urgent need for a state ban on machetes and called for increased awareness among youth regarding the dangers of carrying such weapons. “My thoughts are with the family of that young man who’s lost his life in Gippsland on the weekend in Morwell,” she said, highlighting the ongoing violence in the community.
This incident follows a recent series of violent events in Melbourne, including the funerals of Chol Achiek, 12, and Dau Akueng, 15, who were allegedly killed by a group wielding knives and machetes on September 6. As the community grapples with these tragedies, the call for action against youth violence and weapon possession grows louder.
As developments unfold, the focus remains on the judicial proceedings and community response to these alarming incidents. Authorities continue to urge for tighter regulations on weapon possession to prevent further tragedies.
For immediate updates, stay tuned as this story develops.
