Bail Controversy Erupts After Teen's Fatal Stabbing in Melbourne's North

A 16-year-old boy accused of murdering another youth outside a Melbourne hospital was on bail when the alleged attack took place, a children's court has heard.

Darweish Mohamed, 15, was discovered with stab wounds outside the Craigieburn Community Hospital just before 8pm on Wednesday night. A worker at the medical centre performed CPR but the teenager could not be saved and died at the scene.

Teenagers Charged and Remanded

Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have been charged with his murder. The pair appeared briefly in a children's court on Friday afternoon, where it was revealed that the 16-year-old accused was on bail at the time of the fatal ambush.

Meanwhile, the court heard that this was the 15-year-old's first time in custody, and that he was concerned about being placed with some young people already being held on remand.

Charge sheets allege the pair stole a grey Toyota Corolla on Wednesday, with the 16-year-old also charged with setting the car on fire at Oaklands Junction soon after Darweish's death. Both teenagers were remanded in custody and will return to court for a committal hearing in November. Homicide detectives will have until early October to prepare their brief of evidence.

A Community Mourns

Tributes for Darweish continued to grow outside the hospital on Friday, where his friends came to lay flowers and pictures of the teenager, who attended Mount Ridley P-12 College in Craigieburn. A fundraiser for the slain teenager's family had raised almost $45,000 by Friday afternoon.

A close friend of Darweish who witnessed the incident and tried to save him shared his grief. "He just didn't deserve this," he said. Another friend added, "I'm just trying to not think about it too much. I've kept him in my prayers,".

Attorney-General Calls for Consequences

At a media conference, Victorian Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said the boy's death was an "unimaginable tragedy" for his family and community. She noted that the government's Violence Reduction Unit was working with families and schools to prevent any potential threats from retaliation.

"These are serious matters and they absolutely deserve serious consequences. We owe that to the victim, the young boy," Ms Kilkenny said. "We owe it to his family and we owe it to the community that there will be serious consequences."

Ms Kilkenny stated that preventing knife crime in the first place was also important, adding, "You know, children aren't born carrying knives. It's a choice they make and there needs to be consequences for that choice."

Further Charges Laid

Detectives have also charged a 20-year-old Beveridge man in connection with Darweish's death with criminal damage by fire. He was bailed to appear at the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court in December.

Additionally, a 15-year-old girl is facing charges of affray and theft of a motor vehicle. She will return to court at a later date.