In a distressing incident, a 14-year-old boy is set to appear in court today, charged with attempted murder after an alleged home invasion in the Merewether area of Newcastle.
The shocking incident has also resulted in the apprehension of five other teenagers, including two who were out on bail, in connection with the case.
The New South Wales Police received an urgent call around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, reporting a home invasion on Coane Street in Merewether, located in the Hunter Region of the state.
According to reports, six teenagers, comprising three boys and three girls aged between 13 and 15, allegedly forced their way into the residence.
Inside the home, they were confronted by an elderly woman named Nadine, who, in a moment of terror, screamed for help.
Her son, a former sports star and local rugby union player named Daniel Lowe, was awakened by her cries while he was sleeping in a rear shed on the property. In a brave attempt to protect his mother, Daniel rushed into the house.
A heated argument and physical altercation ensued between the mother-son duo and the intruding group. Tragically, during the scuffle, Mr. Lowe sustained multiple stab wounds to his torso.
Despite his injuries, he valiantly pursued the fleeing teenagers, leaving behind a trail of blood on the footpath and down the street.
Mr. Lowe was swiftly transported to John Hunter Hospital, where he currently remains in a serious but stable condition, placed in an induced coma. Nadine, his mother, was treated for minor injuries following the traumatic ordeal.
Law enforcement officers immediately established a crime scene around the property and conducted a thorough search of the surrounding vicinity, leading to the discovery and apprehension of five of the six teenagers involved.
The charges brought against them are as follows:
A 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl were charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offense.
A 13-year-old boy was charged with the same two offenses as well as breach of bail.
A 15-year-old girl faced charges for breach of bail.
All four of these teenagers are scheduled to appear in a children's court on Wednesday.
One of the teenagers, a 14-year-old girl, was charged with possession of goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen. She was granted strict conditional bail and is slated to appear in a children's court on October 9.
The sixth teenager, a 14-year-old boy, was apprehended several hours later at a property in Raymond Terrace.
He has been charged with break and enter and commit serious indictable offense, including charges related to the attempted murder of Mr. Lowe and reckless wounding in company. He was denied bail and is set to appear in a children's court on Wednesday.
In addition to these charges, detectives are actively investigating whether the teenagers may be connected to two other attempted home invasions that occurred shortly before they allegedly targeted the residence of the mother and son.
