Ten people including three brothers have been found guilty of murder after a teenager was stabbed to death in a group attack in a public park.
A total of 12 defendants faced Queensland Supreme Court in Brisbane on Wednesday for their verdicts, each charged with murdering Girum Mekonnen, following a judge-only trial in November 2024.
Prosecutor Nathan Crane previously told Justice Lincoln Crowley the 19-year-old died near Zillmere park in Brisbane’s north on Sept. 13, 2020.
Justice Crowley heard the motive for the attack was retaliation for the bashing of John Wal Wal at an Ipswich shopping centre five days before Mekonnen was stabbed.
John Wal Wal is the brother of four of the defendants Kresto, Gabreal and Yohana Wal Wal, and Santo Wal.
Justice Crowley on Wednesday found Kresto Wal Wal, 29, Gabreal Wal Wal, 31, and Santo Wal, 36 each guilty of murder.
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The three defendants were also found guilty of nine of 10 other charges including causing grievous bodily harm with intent, unlawful wounding with bats, knives and machetes and assault causing bodily harm against 10 alleged victims.
Majok Riel Majok, 23, Alex Edward Deng, 22, Chan Kuchmol Kon, 28, Joseph Lokolong, 28, Abraham Ajang Yaak, 30, Ben Abio, 23, Juma Makuol Deng Makuol, 28, were also found guilty of murder.
“[Mekonnen] suffered a wound to his abdomen that severed the most significant vein in the human body … somebody had put a bladed weapon to the most vulnerable part of the body and pushed it in 25 centimetres,” Crane previously said.
Crane said Mekonnen had been part of a group of people drinking alcohol and playing cards at the park when the accused formed a “cordon” around the deck where they were sitting.
“They arrived. They produced weapons. They immediately started using the weapons,” he said.
Yohana Wal Wal on Wednesday was found not guilty of murder and not guilty of 10 other charges related to assaults and wounding.
Malat Akoi Makuach, 25, was also found not guilty of murder and 10 other charges.
Each defendant said “no” when Justice Crowley asked if they had anything to say before being sentenced.
Justice Crowley said he intended to sentence the defendants on March 31.
