Teens, 14 and 15, charged with man's murder

Police at the scene in Mandurah where 28-year-old Tauri Litchfield was found fatally wounded.  Source: PerthNow

THREE teenagers - two 14-year-old boys and a 15-year-old - have been charged with murder following the bashing death of Tauri Litchfield in Mandurah last week.

The teenagers were taken into custody yesterday after a series of raids across the metropolitan area in connection with the 28-year-old's death.

A 15-year-old boy from Mandurah, a 14-year-old boy from Leda and a 14-year-old boy from Thornlie have all been charged with murder and will appear in the Perth Children’s Court today.

Several other people taken into custody were released, however investigations are continuing into other people that may have been involved.

Anyone with information they believe could assist this investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Callers can remain anonymous.

Mr Litchfield was found critically injured in a car park on Pinjarra Road on the night of St Patrick's Day with severe head injuries.

He died a short time later in hospital.

A 17-year-old girl was also found beaten, just metres away from Mr Litchfield's body.

Police believe he was at the Brighton Hotel in the hours before the attack with friends and his partner Lisa, who was the last person he spoke to.

Lisa said he had planned to walk home from the bar.

Last week, Mr Litchfield's sister Kirra said her brother had a passion for the outdoors and was like a magnet to those around him.

"My little brother, he was just such an outgoing and charming man. He had such a passion for people and the outdoors, he spent so much time outside and he had this huge enthusiasm that just kind of sprung out of him," she said.

"You can see it in his smile, you'll see it from the photo. Even when it's on a two-dimensional piece of paper, it hits you in the face.

"He was so caring and he was so loving and loved by so many people .... people have come forward and supported us .... it's just been so overwhelming."

Kirra said her brother was an avid surfer and kitesurfer - an all-round adrenalin junkie.

"It was all about the water sports and when he couldn't get in the water then he was trying to create some sort of water sport-esque thing on the land," she said.

"He was a sail-maker, he loved it. When he was a kid all he really wanted to do was get on boats and then he found a job that he could do on boats."
 

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Vic policewomen rescue drowning teens

TWO Victorian policewomen say they did what anyone else would have done when they rescued two teenage girls who nearly drowned after being caught in a rip.

The girls were screaming and saying they didn't want to die as senior constables Kim Wheeler and Lisa McRae swam out to them at Flumes Beach in Warrnambool on Saturday.

The pair, 19-year-old Bree Paige and 18-year-old Jesse Currane, had been dragged out to sea after being caught in a rip.

They were holding on to each other and disappearing from view under the waves.

Sen Const McRae, who was a lifesaver before joining the police force, said the girls were lucky.

"When I first saw the girls I could tell that they were in trouble, they were screaming and getting tumbled around in the waves," she said.

"When Kim and I reached the girls they were screaming and saying that they didn't want to die."

As one of the girls was taken back to shore, Sen Const McRae stayed with the other one and a surfer came to their rescue as they were being swept further out to sea.

Sen Const Wheeler said the situation could have ended badly.

"We just did what anyone else would have done but I can tell you now, when I have kids they are definitely going to nippers," she said.

The rescue came on the same day policeman David Cooper rescued a 12-year-old boy who got into trouble off Lorne.

The boy's father was one of three people to drown on Victorian beaches on Saturday.

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Bikies recruiting teens jogs memories

Shopping centres have been used as prime recruiting grounds by Hells Angels bikies. Source: The Daily Telegraph

POLICE have been inundated with information about bikie gangs attempting to lure teenagers into drug dealing in Sydney's Hills district, following an exclusive report in The Daily Telegraph yesterday.

"We have had been contacted by a lot of people with new information," Inspector Gary Bailey said.

"This could be from witnesses and new victims we did not know about.

"All of the information is now being assessed."

The Daily Telegraph reported Hells Angels members were using shopping malls to recruit, intimidate and rob teenagers, as well as extorting money from their parents.

Police said they had been aware of the problem for about six months and had increased patrols in the area as a result.

"This has forced offenders underground and we want the public to come forward so we can catch the offenders," Insp Bailey said.

"We have got some people who have been brave enough to come forward and tell us what's been happening."

Some parents have allegedly handed over thousands of dollars to bikies to stop their children being intimidated.

Insp Bailey said the group often targeted children who may have delved into drugs themselves.

Baulkham Hills state MP David Elliott warned parents to look out for any unusual behaviour - often an indication children were being bullied.

Insp Bailey said it was worrying that bikies could move into a family-orientated area and intimidate young people and their families.

Detectives have promised to protect the identities of anyone who comes forward with information on the issue.

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