An 18-year-old boy has been sentenced to over eight years of detention after pleading guilty to the murder of 19-year-old Abddullahi Ahmed Iyow. The attack occurred on May 17 last year in Acacia Ridge, Brisbane, where the defendant repeatedly stabbed Iyow with a large hunting knife following a dispute that began when Iyow damaged the teen’s phone.
Justice Rebecca Treston described the circumstances as “virtually unprovoked,” highlighting that Iyow was on the ground and not fighting back at the time he was attacked. She pointed out that the escalation to violence was disproportionate to the initial conflict over the broken phone, which the teen claimed would jeopardise his drug dealings. Iyow succumbed to his injuries a month later due to complications including infection and organ failure.
The court also considered an incident where the teenager was allegedly attacked in court prior to his sentencing; a 22-year-old man reportedly stabbed him with a pen during proceedings. The teenager also faced charges for possession of a knife in public and threats of violence against a bystander who intervened during his altercation with Iyow.
Justice Treston noted the teen’s severe conduct disorder and anti-social behavioural traits, alongside a troubled background—having arrived in Australia as a child from war-torn Somalia. He began using drugs and alcohol in seventh grade, later becoming involved in drug dealing and gang culture, and was isolated from schooling and employment at the time of the murder. He later admitted to a psychiatrist that he “found stabbing people enjoyable.”
In light of the serious nature of the crime and the context of gang-related violence, Justice Treston deemed the teen’s actions particularly heinous. She mandated a sentence of 12 years, requiring the teenager to serve a minimum of 70% of this time in detention to ensure community safety. The court’s decision reflects a broader concern over the prevalence of knife-related incidents resulting in needless fatalities. As for the 22-year-old accused of the court incident, he is scheduled to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 10.