A teenager has been sentenced to 16 years behind bars for the brutal stabbing murder of 70-year-old grandmother Vyleen White in a Queensland shopping centre car park.
A Fatal Attack and a Stolen Car
The then 16-year-old boy attacked Mrs White in front of her young grandchild outside the Redbank Plains Town Square shopping centre, west of Brisbane, in February 2024. He stabbed her in the chest before stealing her car and fleeing the scene.
The offender, who cannot be named due to Queensland's youth justice laws, was charged with murder, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and three counts of stealing. Now aged 17, he pleaded guilty to all charges earlier this year.
Heartbreaking Victim Impact Statements
During a sentencing hearing in the Brisbane Supreme Court, emotional victim impact statements from Mrs White's family were read aloud. Crown prosecutor Chris Cook was moved to tears while reading a statement from the young granddaughter who witnessed the horrific crime.
"Sometimes I have trouble falling asleep, and I worry about having bad dreams," the statement read. "I didn't get hurt, but I feel scared sometimes." The girl expressed how much she misses her 'Nanny' and reflected on her own bravery, stating, "when I ran for help I think I was really brave."
Mrs White's husband shared his profound grief with the court, saying he was "not just grieving my wife, but our life together." He described how the violent act had left his family "broken in ways we can't fully capture."
Legal Proceedings and Legislative Fallout
The case sparked national outrage and became a catalyst for legislative change in Queensland. The state's Liberal National government introduced new Adult Crime Adult Time laws after winning the 2024 election.
These laws, which came into effect in December 2024:
- Allow juveniles to face adult sentences for more than 30 offences including attempted murder and rape
- Grant media and victims' families greater access to youth court cases
However, these stricter laws do not apply retrospectively and therefore did not affect this case.
Under previous youth justice laws, the teenager faced a maximum of 10 years in detention unless the court deemed the offence "particularly heinous." Prosecutor Chris Cook argued for a sentence of 17 to 18 years, describing the crime as meeting that threshold. The defence lawyer, Matthew Hynes, sought a lesser term of 12 to 13 years.
Ultimately, Justice Tom Sullivan handed down a sentence of 16 years in prison, noting the profound impact on the victim's family and the community.
