Teen girls charged with murder of Cian English
Two teenage girls have been charged with the murder and torture of Cian English, 19, who fell to his death from a Gold Coast apartment during an alleged robbery.
The girls, aged 15 and 16 from Coomera, appeared in Southport Children’s Court after being charged on Thursday with the murder, robbery, deprivation of liberty and torture of the Brisbane teen.
The girls were allegedly part of a group who invited English and a friend – both of whom were staying in the same building – to party with them in their apartment unit.
It is alleged the group used drugs with English and his friend before attempting to rob the pair at knifepoint.
Detective Inspector Brendan Smith said the girls filmed three men in the unit torturing English and his friend and uploaded the videos on social media.
“These girls were actively at the scene. Legislation allows people to be charged with being a party to an offence,” Smith told reporters on Thursday.
“The girls videoed the incident and the torture on the boys, both English and his friend, and they took no active step. It’s clear they were actively encouraging it.”
English’s body was found at the base of the View Pacific Resort in Surfers Paradise in the early morning of May 23.
Smith said English was found with wounds to his chin and arm, allegedly inflicted by a knife.
“We will be alleging they have seen him go over the verandah,” Smith said.
“They have looked down and seen he is obviously deceased and then they have stolen clothing off another unconscious male on the verandah.”
The three men – Jason Ryan Knowles, 22, Hayden Paul Kratzmann, 20, and Lachlan Paul Soper-Lagas, 18 – have also been charged with English’s murder and remain in custody.