Brutal Machete Attack on Innocent Teenager
A teenage killer who composed a sickening rap song glorifying the brutal murder of an innocent 14-year-old boy has been sentenced to 17 years in prison. The now 19-year-old thug, who cannot be named for legal reasons, showed complete remorselessness throughout the proceedings for killing Ethan Hoac in a vicious machete attack.
The horrific incident occurred on June 26, 2023 in the northwest Melbourne suburb of St Albans. Ethan had been completely innocent - a stranger who had simply spent the day out with friends in the city before tragedy struck.
Justice Served But Questions Remain
On Thursday, Justice Jane Dixon sentenced the killer to 17 years behind bars, with a non-parole period of just 13 years. This amounts to less than one year for every year lived by his young victim. With 753 days already served in juvenile detention, the remorseless murderer could potentially walk free in little under 11 years.
The court heard disturbing details of how Ethan had been walking home from the train station with two friends around 11pm when the killer and his associates inexplicably targeted them. The entire attack lasted less than a minute but was captured on CCTV, providing chilling evidence of the brutality.
Disturbing History and Behaviour
Justice Dixon revealed the killer's atrocious criminal history, which had placed him on youth supervision orders from the age of just 14. His previous offences weren't minor crimes but included violent acts such as recklessly causing injury, assaults, robberies and burglary.
In 2022, he received a 15-month juvenile detention sentence which, if served in full, would have prevented him from being free to commit this murder. The killer is further accused of participating in a youth detention riot in October last year.
Perhaps most disturbingly, the court heard how the killer went out and bought a new machete off eBay just days after murdering Ethan. He then composed a twisted rap song about the bloody killing, with notebooks later discovered containing more sick lyrics.
Justice Dixon stated the youth was later accused of uploading a rap about the murder to YouTube while in custody. 'The timing of creating content that glorifies violence and killing while awaiting sentence for murder is disturbing,' she remarked.
Horrific Final Moments
The court was forced to relive Ethan's horrific final moments through CCTV evidence. 'While Ethan was on the ground, you stabbed him repeatedly using downward thrusting motions with both hands,' Justice Dixon described.
During the machete attack, which lasted at least 20 seconds, Ethan crawled from his initial position towards the roadway in a desperate attempt to escape. A post-mortem examination identified 30 stab wounds on his body.
'Frankly, it is hard to comprehend the horror of this attack on young Ethan, an attack performed without the slightest reason or provocation,' Justice Dixon said. She noted Ethan's vulnerability given his size and age, describing him as 'a slightly built, smaller boy who had no chance to anticipate what you would do to him.'
Family's Heartbreaking Loss
Ethan's mother Annie Huynh, who endured countless court hearings before her son's killer finally pleaded guilty to murder in October, delivered a heartbreaking victim impact statement outlining her profound grief.
She shared her agony about the drawn-out court process, stating: 'I try to keep making a positive life for my son, but the court case being delayed so much and hearing everything again and again, it makes it very hard.'
The court was read a touching Mother's Day card Ethan had created for his mother before his life was brutally cut short. The simple message read: 'Dear Mom, Happy Mother's Day. Thank you for everything. I love when you cook for me. You are special to me because you take care of me every day.'
Sentencing Considerations and Reform
In determining the sentence, Justice Dixon acknowledged the killer's dysfunctional upbringing, immaturity, and intellectual limitations. She noted that 'the custodial environment you are currently in may mean that it will be some time before you develop proper and lasting insight into what you have done.'
The sentencing comes just over a week after Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced plans to allow children as young as 14 to be sentenced as adults. Under proposed changes, children aged 14 could face trial in adult courts and potentially receive life terms.
'There are too many victims and not enough consequences,' Ms Allan stated, highlighting the need for judicial reform.
Two of the killer's alleged co-offenders have yet to have their cases finalised, meaning this tragic story continues to unfold through the justice system.
