"The justice system is broken," said Opposition Deputy Leader David Southwick, after 109 charges against a 14-year-old girl were withdrawn due to the doli incapax presumption.

Charges Withdrawn for 14-Year-Old

On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Victoria Police withdrew 109 charges against a 14-year-old girl, who was 13 at the time of the alleged offenses. A Victoria Police spokesperson stated that the charges were withdrawn because the police prosecution was unable to rebut the legal presumption that a child aged 13 and under is incapable of committing a criminal offense. This requires proving the child knew their conduct was seriously morally wrong.

Alleged Incidents

Court documents and police reports allege that over a period of several weeks, the girl was involved in a series of incidents, including:

• Driving a stolen car in Brighton on March 30 and attempting to hit a cyclist with the passenger door. The cyclist, a 45-year-old man, sustained a brain bleed.
• Allegedly searching online for "how long the sentence is for running someone over" within minutes of the Brighton incident.
• Allegedly swerving towards a Jewish family in Ripponlea in March, causing them to take evasive action.
• Shouting antisemitic remarks at pedestrians in Hampton, Ripponlea, and Caulfield.
• Allegedly searching online for "where do Jews live" prior to some offenses.

The charges included reckless conduct endangering serious injury, motor vehicle theft, and burglary. The girl was denied bail in April due to the severity of the allegations.

Government Response

Premier Jacinta Allan criticized the alleged behavior but declined to comment on the specifics of the case. She stated that the government is taking action on youth crime, including the introduction of tougher bail laws and the "adult time for violent crime" policy.

Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny stated she would "do everything to toughen consequences for young offenders" and support the Violence Reduction Unit for early intervention. Ms. Kilkenny declined to confirm whether the doli incapax law would be reformed. A previous government promise to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 14 was abandoned in August 2024.

Political Reaction

"The justice system is broken."
— David Southwick, Opposition Deputy Leader

Separate Incidents: Armed Robberies and Vehicle Thefts

Armed Robberies in Frankston and Cranbourne

Two teenagers have been charged after a series of armed robberies in Melbourne's southern suburbs. According to police:

• A 16-year-old boy has been charged with three counts of armed robbery and theft of a motor vehicle.
• A 17-year-old boy has been charged with three counts of armed robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, and dangerous driving.
• A 13-year-old boy was interviewed and released pending further investigation.

Timeline:

• At approximately 9:50 am, the teenagers allegedly pulled up to a bus stop in a stolen Toyota on Young Street in Frankston. They threatened a teenage boy with a knife and stole his puffer jacket.
• Later, the group drove to a bus stop on High Street in Cranbourne. Police allege the teenagers, wearing ski masks and one holding a knife, forced two teenagers to hand over their shoes and clothing.
• Police spotted the Toyota and followed it to Dandenong, where they arrested three male teenagers in a shopping center car park near Dandenong Railway Station. The stolen vehicle was allegedly taken from a Noble Park address.

The teenagers have been remanded to appear before a children's court.

Vehicle Thefts and Other Charges

In a separate case, a 13-year-old girl has been charged with 52 offences following a series of alleged incidents. This series of incidents involves separate allegations from the 109-charge case. Alleged incidents include:

• Occupants of a stolen black Hyundai sedan allegedly making antisemitic remarks and throwing eggs at pedestrians in Hampton, Ripponlea, and Caulfield. The girl is accused of driving this car and driving it towards members of the Jewish community in Ripponlea.
• A hit-and-run in Brighton involving a stolen silver SUV. An occupant allegedly attempted to hit a cyclist with a passenger door before the SUV collided with the bike. The cyclist sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
• A collision with an e-scooter in Elwood involving a stolen white Volkswagen Golf. The riders fell, and the e-scooter crashed into a parked vehicle. The stolen Volkswagen was later involved in a police pursuit before being stopped. Three female occupants were arrested.

The 13-year-old girl faces charges including reckless conduct endangering serious injury, theft of a motor vehicle, burglary, and threatening physical harm on the ground of a protected attribute. She has been remanded. A 16-year-old girl and another 13-year-old girl were arrested and charged with theft of a motor vehicle and handling stolen goods and were bailed.

Youth Crime Statistics

Data from the Crime Statistics Agency shows youth crime in Victoria fell by 6% for the year to March, while adult crime rose by 10%.