A 15-year-old has been found guilty of murder for fatally stabbing 16-year-old Oscar Hamilton in a crowded shopping center in September 2024. The Supreme Court of Victoria heard that the attack occurred in broad daylight at the Woodgrove Shopping Centre in Melton, west of Melbourne.
The jury convicted the then-15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, of murder after deliberating for less than an hour. The prosecution, led by Brendan Kissane KC, had pushed for a murder trial despite the defense's plea of manslaughter.
According to the prosecution, the motive for the stabbing was rooted in a claim by a 14-year-old girl that Oscar Hamilton had sexually assaulted her. The accused teenager allegedly believed he could prove his affection for this girl by attacking Hamilton.
Evidence presented in court included graphic CCTV footage from multiple angles within the shopping center, clearly depicting the stabbing. The footage showed the accused confronting Hamilton, who was with his girlfriend and friends. After a brief exchange, the killer grabbed Hamilton by the collar and repeatedly stabbed him in the chest, with the third blow proving fatal and piercing his heart.
The court heard that shortly before the attack, the killer had contacted the girl on Snapchat, reportedly asking if her claim against Hamilton was true. Hamilton had insisted he was innocent.
Following the stabbing, the killer fled the scene, discarding the knife, which has not been recovered. He was arrested hours later at a friend's house.
During the trial, the jury heard recordings of prison phone calls the accused made to his parents. In these calls, he expressed anger about his alleged love interest not engaging with his family after the murder, stating, "I only did it for her, and even if that guy didn't touch her, I still would have done it; I knew the kid."
Paramedics and bystanders attempted to save Hamilton, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. His family was present during the trial and reportedly became emotional as the graphic CCTV footage was played.
Detective Stephen Eppingstall, who previously secured a conviction in the case of the "mushroom killer" Erin Patterson, led the investigation. The case has drawn attention to the issue of knife violence, with Oscar Hamilton's friends organizing a campaign against it following his death. They wore hoodies with his image and slogans such as "Long Live Oscar" and "Stop The Violence."
The sentencing date for the convicted teenager is yet to be set.