A 17-year-old teenager died after being stabbed while another 16-year-old boy sustained leg injuries during the fight that broke out near the amusement rides at Sydney’s Royal Easter Show at around 8:00 pm on Monday.
Over 850,000 people reportedly attended the show, according to the police a brawl broke out at the crowded carnival ride area of the showground. The 17-year-old boy was stabbed in the chest and given first aid at the scene by police before paramedics arrived. He died on the way to Westmead Hospital, meanwhile, the 16-year-old boy is still in hospital with stab wounds to his leg.
Police superintendent Danielle Emerton said a 15-year-old boy, claimed to be a relative of the 17-year-old boy who was stabbed, had been charged with carrying a knife in a public place, carrying a knife with intent and affray. The court heard that the boy was alleged to have pulled a knife and chased three unknown men after his relative was fatally stabbed. The alleged suspect was arrested at the scene, he appeared in Parramatta Children’s Court via an audio link from Auburn Police Station on Tuesday. He was reportedly granted strict conditional bail. No pleas were entered and police did not oppose the granting of bail.
"We believe that there is someone who we still need to identify that is responsible for the stabbing," Emerton told reporters on Tuesday. "It may be one person, it may be a number of people. There were thousands of people there, if you have information, please come forward,” Emerton said. "It’s a tragic incident. It’s going to have affected a family. This is a senseless act. This is a family event at the Royal Easter Show." Police believed that the attack was not random but rather that two groups of males met at the show and a confrontation broke out.
The adult area of the carnival rides section remained closed on Tuesday. Metal detectors were said to be used at the show however searching everyone and the bags of all people who attended the show over 12 days was not possible, Chief executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Murray Wilton, said as he apologized to people who witnessed the stabbing incident. "Someone’s lost their life at our house, and it’s disgraceful," he added.
Videos of the incident emerged on social media featuring parts of the fight, including footage of boys brawling as groups of teenagers ran through crowds.
