Mother of teen charged with murder apologises

The woman’s 16-year-old son is accused of stabbing Vyleen White in what police allege was a violent carjacking.

White, 70, was attacked near her car in an underground car park at Town Square Redbank Plains shopping centre in Ipswich, south-west of Brisbane.

“I’m sorry to the community because I didn’t know that the kids do that,” the mother, who cannot be identified, said.

She said her son told her “I love you mum” as police put him in handcuffs and led him away.

The mother also apologised to White’s family.

“I feel sorry about that, yeah, because it’s so bad,” she said.

The boy is behind bars as he awaits his next court appearance. 9News can reveal he was on bail at the time of the alleged murder.

Last year he was charged with stealing a car and three counts of armed robbery.

The accused is a refugee from Sudan. His family arrived in Australia 16 years ago when he was a baby.

Three other teenagers have also faced court in relation to the alleged murder, all charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

“Any incidents occurred at that shopping centre prior to and after the offence will form part of our investigation and some of those matters will be part of the offence before the court,” Detective Acting Inspector Heath McQueen said.

“Whilst we have commenced proceedings against five persons so far I won’t rule out further persons being charged in relation to this matter.”