Arabic version: منح كفالة مشددة لمتهم باعتداء مزعوم في مركز تسوق بكانبرا

According to ABC News, an 18-year-old man accused of assaulting two young boys at Canberra’s Belconnen Westfield shopping centre has been granted bail under what the court heard were “very, very strict conditions”.

Police allege the man approached boys aged two and four at the shopping centre, knocked both of them over and kicked one of them. One boy was taken to hospital for treatment for injuries sustained in the alleged incident in August.

The man, who has a serious intellectual impairment, faces charges of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had been remanded in custody. Legal Aid lawyer Gillian Bilton told the ACT Magistrates Court that the proposed conditions would ensure the “very vulnerable young man” was never left alone.

Under the conditions, he cannot leave his home unless supervised by two people and may only go out for essential reasons. He must remain within touching distance of the two supervisors. Special Magistrate Sean Richter also ordered that he stay at least five metres away from children and comply with police door-checks.

Prosecutor Taden Kelliher told the court he had “considerable concerns” about the bail request, saying the man was a danger. However, he accepted the conditions would effectively amount to house arrest. The court heard the man had been left in limbo while seeking access to an NDIS support package. The matter is due to return to court in October.