Witnesses forced to testify over boys’ stabbing deaths

13 witnesses will have to testify regarding the alleged murder of two boys returning home from a basketball game.

Chol Achiek, 12, and Dau Akueng, 15, were allegedly attacked by a group of men in Cobblebank, north-west of Melbourne, on September 6, 2025.

Eight young men, aged between 15 and 19, were charged with murder and three of the defendants appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Abel Sorzor, 19, Prince Conteh, 19, and Peter Addo, 18, appeared on a video link from prison for the brief hearing, at which senior prosecutor Kristie Churchill asked for an adjournment.

He told the court that a separate two-day hearing was planned for March, where 13 witnesses would be subject to compulsory questioning.

Compulsory examination hearings are most commonly used when a prosecution witness refuses to give a written statement to the police.

Ms Churchill said some of the witnesses only related to certain defendants and defense lawyers would need time to review the transcript of evidence before the next hearing date.

Judge Stephen Ballek agreed and allowed the stay to be extended until May 4.

Sorzor, Conteh and Addo were each detained until their next committal hearing.

The other five defendants, ages 15 and 16, will be tried in juvenile court at a later date.