Police have charged a teenager with murder after a fatal stabbing on the NSW Central Coast as a court hears the alleged killing was “over a hat”.
The 15-year-old boy was charged on Saturday morning following the death of a 22-year-old in hospital earlier this week.
The man was allegedly stabbed at Mann Street in Gosford, on the NSW Central Coast about 7.30pm on Tuesday, but died a short time later in Gosford Hospital.
NSW police arrested the boy and a 45-year-old mother at a nearby Lake Haven address about 1am on Saturday.
The 45-year-old woman was charged with hindering apprehension of a person who committed a serious offence.
She cannot be identified by law.
At her bail hearing before the NSW Bail Division Court on Saturday, her solicitor Javid Faiz alleged there had been an argument about a hat.
“I spoke to the detective in relation to the murder … police are aware as to why the incident has taken place,” he said.
“Police say that it is not a gang-related type but rather that it is something that has occurred over a hat.”
He said the woman was not necessarily aware of the warrant for the child’s arrest and would contest the charge.
“There is nothing to suggest that (she) was aware that there was a warrant at the time,” Mr Faiz said.
“(Police) have observed a female, they’ve knocked on the door and observed a female.
“It’s not one (case) where the young person has then taken off, the young person was found under the bed.”
Mr Faiz further said there was CCTV footage of the matter with evidence of “how it all started”.
Mr Faiz submitted the woman was a carer to an autistic child and had recently “worked her way” to stable accommodation after experiencing homelessness in the wake of her partner’s death.
She was granted bail on the condition she reside at the Lake Haven address and report to police weekly.
Her matter will be next heard in Wyong Local Court on August 11.
The 15-year-old was charged with murder and refused bail.
He was to appear before Children’s Bail Court on Saturday.