A 13-year-old gang member charged over a violent brawl that led to the death of Melbourne teenager Solomone Taufeulungaki was on bail at the time of the alleged attack, and was on Tuesday again released back into the community under strict conditions.
Solomone, 15, died after being fatally stabbed in the chest during a fight near the Brimbank Shopping Centre, near Deer Park in Melbourne's west, last Tuesday night.
ABC News reports six boys between the ages of 13 and 16 have been charged with violent disorder and affray, but no one has yet been charged with his murder.
On Tuesday, one of the boys accused of participating in the attack faced a children's court and was granted bail, which police and prosecutors did not oppose.
The court heard that the boy, who is 13, is a member of the 97 gang, which is also known as the Brotherhood.
It also heard he was on bail at the time of the attack and was due to face court on attempted armed robbery, possession of an imitation firearm and shoplifting charges.
Homicide detectives said that on the day of Solomone's death, the Brotherhood gang, armed with bats and knives, was actively looking for the members of the rival VB group, who they were feuding with.
Security footage obtained after the brawl shows Solomone running from up to 10 masked gang members.
But he was unable to outrun the group and was allegedly assaulted on the ground, where he was fatally stabbed.
Detective Senior Constable Luke Warner told the court that he believed the 13-year-old boy was in the group that attacked Solomone.
Godmother tells court 'he knows his limit with me'
The magistrate was told that if the boy was granted bail, he would live with his godmother and would be expected to abide by strict bail conditions.
They include agreeing not to associate with other accused, not inciting violence against others on social media and abiding by a curfew.
The boy's godmother gave assurances to the court that if he breached his bail conditions, she would contact the authorities immediately.
"I feel it's not going to get to that," she said.
"He knows his limit with me. I've always been pretty strict with him as well.
"I have all the faith that … he's going to come into my house respectfully, as he's always done.
"If he doesn't, he has to face those consequences once again."
The boy will return to court in July.