By Hammad Kahlun
Scandinavian News Finland
A Victorian Supreme Court judge found four teenagers guilty of murder following a brutal group assault that claimed the life of Declan Cutler outside a party in Reservoir in March 2022.
The Attack
Declan Cutler, 16, was stabbed dozens of times outside a party in Reservoir, Melbourne, in March 2022. The assault involved multiple attackers and took place in the early hours of 13 March.
The court found the attack was random and unprovoked, carried out by a large group of young people. Each participant was found to have actively kicked or stabbed Declan multiple times.
The Perpetrators and Their Connection
The attackers belonged to a local youth group called “the 9 years,” which had longstanding friction with a rival group referred to as “H-town.”
The group was driving toward Reservoir in a Mazda when, just before 2:30am, two individuals approached the car and spoke to the occupants. Shortly afterward, the car performed a U-turn. The attack followed shortly after.
Court Findings
The Supreme Court of Victoria held that all convicted parties had entered into an agreement to kill Declan, or at least cause him really serious injury, at the time they exited the vehicle and gave chase.
The court noted there was no evidence of prior discussion or pre-planning to attack anyone that night however, each party knew others were carrying knives.
Because the offenders were minors at the time of the crime, the court applied pseudonyms throughout proceedings in accordance with Victorian child protection legislation.
The Victim’s Family
Declan’s mother described feeling numb since the death of her first-born child. The family has faced over two years of legal proceedings since the night of the attack.
Supreme Court of Victoria Hands Down Verdict in Declan Cutler Case
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