Mandurah death: Four teens face court

Fourth teenager charged with the St Patricks Day murder of Mandurah man Tauri Litchfield, 28, last month. Source: PerthNow

A FOURTH teenage boy has appeared in court charged with the St Patrick?s Day murder of Mandurah man, Tauri Litchfield.

Major Crime Squad detectives charged the fourth teenager, a 14-year-old from Warnbro, with murder after he was arrested yesterday in the Pilbara town of Tom Price, 1500km north of Perth.

He was due to appear in court via video link from Tom Price to Carnarvon this morning but instead appeared via video link before Judge Denis Reynolds at the Perth Children’s Court, alongside his three co-accused.

The trio, a 15-year-old boy from Mandurah, a 14-year-old from Leda and a 14-year-old from Thornlie, were last week charged with killing Mr Litchfield.

They are in custody and appeared in court via video link from Banksia Hill juvenile detention centre.

During the hearing today, it was revealed the fourth boy was in Tom Price with his father and was arrested by local police yesterday.

Detectives from Major Crime then flew to the Pilbara town where they questioned the teenager and charged him with murder last night.

Because of the town’s remote locality, legal representation for the boy could not be found.

Lawyers representing the three other boys told the court they would not be making any applications for bail but were seeking an adjournment as well as disclosure of materials including the police recorded interviews.

Judge Reynolds granted the request and adjourned the case until May 24.

He ordered the three boys remain in custody.

He also adjourned the fourth boy’s case to the same date and ordered he be brought to Perth and held in custody, but appear before him next week once he has been able to obtain legal advice.

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Suns star fined over Mandurah brawl

Gold Coast Suns midfielder Harley Bennell has been fined $3000 for involvement in a brawl in Mandurah. Picture: Chris Hyde. Source: Getty Images

GOLD Coast AFL midfielder Harley Bennell has been fined $3000 and given a spent conviction over a New Year's Eve scuffle.

Bennell had been charged with disorderly behaviour, failing to obey an order given by a police officer and possessing an article with intent, namely a pool ball, during celebrations in Western Australia.

The 20-year-old was one of several people arrested when fighting broke out among about 60 people in his home town of Mandurah, south of Perth.

The midfielder appeared in the Mandurah Courthouse via video link from Queensland where he pleaded guilty to all offences.

He was granted a spent conviction, but was fined $3000, plus court costs.

Magistrate Vivien Edwards took into consideration that Bennell did not have a record and that the incident could affect his football career.

The court heard Bennell had been defending his younger brother during the brawl, but Ms Edwards said Bennell's motivation was "misguided''.

The AFL star said he regretted his actions and apologised to police.

The West Australian was drafted by the Suns in 2010 with their second pick and was one of the stars in their upset  win over St Kilda in the opening round of the AFL season.

He played every game of the 2012 season and finished runner-up in the club's best and fairest last year, second only to champion Gary Ablett.

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Fresh leads in Mandurah murder mystery

Tauri Litchfield was found in a Mandurah car park with severe head injuries that led to his death. Source: PerthNow

FRESH leads are being pursued by police investigating the bashing murder of a good samaritan in Mandurah on Sunday.

 mWest Australian police found Greenfields man Tauri Litchfield in a Pinjarra Road car park with severe head injuries on Sunday night and believe he was assaulted at the intersection of George Street at around 7.15pm.

He was rushed to hospital by ambulance but later died.

Major Crime Squad detectives believe several people were in the area before, during and after the assault.

They particularly want to speak to the occupants of a white ``people mover'' van towing a box trailer, which drove past around the time Mr Litchfield was being attacked.

Police also want to speak to two people who walked east along Pinjarra Road and were at the corner of George Street shortly after the assault.

Earlier this week, they were investigating possible links between Mr Litchfield and a 17-year-old girl who was found nearby with serious but not life-threatening injuries, and whose condition later improved in hospital to stable.

Media reports suggested the man was set upon while trying to come to the aid of the girl, who he didn't know, and who was being attacked.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Arsonist strikes Mandurah boat yard

MANDURAH BOAT FIRE Pics Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

POLICE are investigating a fire at a boat yard in Greenfields, near Mandurah, which caused more than $100,000 damage overnight.

Firefighters were called to the property on Panton Road, 3km north of Mandurah, about 1.30am today and extinguished the fire, which damaged three boats.

The arson squad is now investigating the blaze.

It is the second suspected arson at a Mandurah boatyard within a week after a fire destroyed seven boats on March 14, causing $400,000 damage at a nearby boatyard at Mandurah's Spinnaker Quay, Yunderup, just east of the town.  

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Police probe man's Mandurah death

Police at the scene in Mandurah where a 28-year-old man was found with fatal injuries. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

Police at the scene in Mandurah where a 28-year-old man was found with fatal injuries. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

Police at the scene in Mandurah where a 28-year-old man was found with fatal head injuries. PICTURE: Andrew Nelson / Twitter Source: PerthNow

Police at the scene in Mandurah where a 28-year-old man was found with fatal head injuries. PICTURE: Andrew Nelson / Twitter Source: PerthNow

Police at the scene in Mandurah where a 28-year-old man was found dead. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

POSSIBLE links between a 17-year-old girl who was injured and a man who was fatally bashed in Mandurah on Sunday night are being investigated by police.

A 28-year-old man was found in a car park on Pinjarra Road with severe head injuries and later died.

The teenager was found nearby with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

Major Crime Squad detectives, who have obtained security footage from the area, are now trying to establish whether there was any link between the pair.

Media reports suggest the man was set upon while trying to come to the aid of the girl, who he did not know, and was being attacked.

The teenage girl is in Royal Perth Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Late Sunday police were called to a business on Pinjarra Road near George Street about 8.20pm.

Officers found the wounded man, who was taken by ambulance to hospital but later died of his injuries.

A forensics team remained at the scene for much of yesterday and road closures have been put in place.

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Police probe man's Mandurah death

MURDER PROBE: Forensic police and Major Crime detectives are investigating a suspicious death in Mandurah after a man was discovered with fatal head injuries. Source: PerthNow

MAJOR Crime Squad detectives are investigating the suspicious death of a 28-year-old man found with fatal head injuries in a Mandurah car park overnight.

Police were called to a business on Pinjarra Road near George Street about 8.20pm yesterday.

Officers found the wounded man, who was taken by ambulance to hospital but later died of his injuries.

A forensics team is still at the scene and road closures have been put in place.

Pinjarra Road is closed to all traffic from Sutton Street to Boundary Road in Mandurah, traffic management is on site and drivers are asked to avoid the area and find alternative routes.

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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