Australian authorities have significantly expanded charges in a devastating double homicide case, now prosecuting eight teenagers for the brutal machete killings of two Sudanese Australian boys in Melbourne last September. The victims, identified as 15-year-old Dau Akeung and 12-year-old Chol Achiek, were ambushed while returning from a basketball game in Cobblebank, Melbourne’s western suburbs, on September 6, 2025.
Court proceedings have revealed shocking new details about the attack’s motivation. According to lead detectives, the teenagers allegedly targeted Dau and Chol as retaliation for the December 2024 stabbing death of 18-year-old Kon Hsu Sein in the neighboring suburb of Kurunjang. That earlier incident, described by police as a massive brawl involving approximately 40 youths, resulted in five individuals from the predominantly South Sudanese GDG gang facing murder charges.
The prosecution presented disturbing forensic evidence indicating extreme violence. Crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill disclosed during court appearances that Dau sustained 72 separate blade injuries in the attack, with both victims allegedly slashed to death using machetes and other long-edged weapons.
All eight accused, whose identities remain protected due to their status as minors, now face charges for both murders. The youngest suspect was merely 15 years old at the time of arrest. Initial bail applications have met with strong opposition from prosecutors, with Dau’s family reportedly “terrified” at the prospect of the accused being released and having sought relocation from Cobblebank due to safety concerns.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien characterized the investigation as “exhaustive and complex,” noting the case has “attracted significant community interest.” He emphasized that the victims were “completely unknown” to local youth gangs according to court testimony, suggesting they were targeted specifically because they were young Sudanese males.
The tragedy has sparked widespread grief across Melbourne’s communities. Family members remembered Dau as a passionate basketball player from Fitzroy and Collingwood, describing him as an “annoying but loyal” brother with exceptional kindness and musical talents. His father publicly declared his son was “a basketball player, not a criminal.”
All defendants remain in police custody awaiting further court proceedings, with the case continuing to develop as additional evidence emerges.