MICHAEL BENNETT
A witness to a fatal blow on a teenager said he saw a “fellow” take a big swing with what looked like a long-neck beer bottle into the back of the youth’s head.
Giving evidence at the murder trial of Steven Rowe’s accused killer, who cannot be identified because he is 17, the witness said Steven was hit while he was in the middle of an altercation with another youth.
Steven, 17, died on November 5, 2008. He never regained consciousness after being struck in the back of the head with a thick jarrah stake on October 31 at Timberlane Park in Woodvale.
Staring at the alleged murderer on numerous occasions, Steven’s “good mate” said he swung twice at the accused before the accused “pretty much bolted” from the scene.
Teenage witnesses have had their identities suppressed by the court.
The friend, who the court was told earlier belonged to a Woodvale graffiti gang called UE, said Steven had asked a friend of the accused killer about why he had “bricked” another person. He said Steven then grabbed the youth by the shirt collar, before the youth grabbed him back.
“I just seen somebody swing . . . from what I saw it looked like a bottle, a brown long neck,” he said.
The friend said it was a fast swing and a “pretty loud clunk” before Steven fell to one knee, with his head and shoulders then falling to the ground.
“He got a bit wobbly on his knees . . . .,” he said. “I picked up his hands and they were limp . . . I put my hands under his armpits and dragged him in the bushes.”
He told how he had Steven’s head resting on his knees and stomach before calling a friend to take him to the hospital.
A second male witness yesterday told how earlier that night, Steven’s friend had punched him multiple times and tried to headbutt him. It was over a three-year conflict.
The court was told on Monday that the youth who Steven grabbed had been looking for Steven’s friend over this earlier attack.
The second male witness described how some of Steven’s friends associated with UE members. He said there were many gangs in Woodvale known for “bashing people and graffiti”, including the gangs KFA (Kids F. . . Around), CMF (Crazy Mother F. . .) and SFR (Start F. . . Running).
He said he took seriously threats from UE members who told him to “run for his life” after the attack by Steven’s friend.
Const. Mark Collier, who had stopped Steven while he had been running near the park the same hour that he was attacked, testified that Steven did not seem intoxicated.
Judith McCreath, who did the autopsy, said Steven had a blood alcohol reading of 0.088 some time after the attack. The trial continues.