‘Gangster bravado and bloodlust’: Men jailed over Brisbane murder

A group of men who attacked a 19-year-old in a park and fatally stabbed him as he tried to flee have each been sentenced to life in jail.

The 10 defendants faced Queensland Supreme Court on Monday for sentencing for murder.

Girum Mekonnen died from a 25-centimetre deep wound inflicted when his group was ambushed by men with bats, knives and machetes at a Zillmere park in Brisbane’s north on September 13, 2020.

Justice Lincoln Crowley said the attackers had used dangerous weapons, including a baseball bat covered in spikes or barbed wire and a machete, in a brazen ambush.

“You murdered an unarmed and innocent young man in a gutless group attack,” Justice Crowley said.

The defendants were also sentenced for nine other charges including causing grievous bodily harm with intent, unlawful wounding with bats, knives and machetes, and assault causing bodily harm against multiple other victims.

Kresto Wal Wal, 29, Gabreal Wal Wal, 31, Santo Wal, 36, Joseph Lokolong, 28, Majok Riel Majok, 23, Abraham Ajang Yaak, 30, Alex Edward Deng, 22, Chan Kuchmol Kon, 28, Ben Abio, 24 and Juma Makuol Deng Makuol, 28 were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Prosecutor Nathan Crane had sought the mandatory 20-year period without parole to be lifted to 25 years for all defendants.

Justice Crowley, who had earlier heard the evidence in a judge-only trial, declined to extend the non-parole period for any of them.