2 hours ago
1
A sword nestled among miscellaneous household items in an unassuming backyard shed is believed to be the weapon involved in the killing of one of two children in a violent attack in Cobblebank last year.
Images released by magistrate Stephen Ballek show the large blade had been placed on top of a disused washing machine and next to a pressure washer, hi-vis clothing and a plastic jerry can.
Compulsory examinations into the alleged murders of 12-year-old Chol Achiek and 15-year-old Dau Akueng continued in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where prosecutors said the sword tested positive for blood believed to belong to one of the slain victims.
On the handle of the weapon was believed to be the DNA of one of the 16-year-old accused murderers – the son of the shed owner, they said.
On Wednesday, a 19-year-old man told the court he knew one of the alleged murderers and was also part of the 38 youth gang.
The prosecution suggested the 19-year-old and other gang members were also part of an Instagram group chat called “The Clubhouse”, with a video call occurring between a string of users on September 6, 2025 – the night of the two killings.
The man, who was required to give evidence by the court, maintained he was at church “praying to God” with others at the time of the killings.
Emergency services were initially called to the scene about 8pm following reports two children had been killed. Chol was found on Marble Drive, while Dau was located on Cobble Street. Both died at the scene.
Police have charged seven people, including three adults and four teenagers, over the killings.
Phone logs were produced in court on Wednesday that allegedly showed one of the accused killers, who cannot be identified due to his age, called the 19-year-old five times in a row from 7.59pm, with records indicating they spoke.
The witness said he could not recall the phone conversations and told the court he was unaware of the Cobblebank killings until he heard it on the news.
The court heard one message found by police in the Instagram group chat said, “I just saw ---” and “get [the 19-year-old].”
A 19-year-old Thornhill man, two 16-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy have been charged with the murder of Dau Akueng.
A 19-year-old Caroline Springs man, an 18-year-old Wollert man and a 16-year-old boy have been charged with the murder of Chol Achiek.
On Tuesday, the court heard the father of one of the alleged killers seized the sword and placed it in the locked backyard shed. The father denied knowing it had possibly been used in any crime.
Crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill said forensic testing later revealed traces of blood on the blade were believed to belong to one of the victims, as well as DNA suspected to come from one of the 16-year-old accused murderers on the handle.
