Teancum Vernon Petersen-Crofts. Photo: Facebook
Camera IconTeancum Vernon Petersen-Crofts. Photo: Facebook Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Ellenbrook murder accused begs to be spared jail

Lauren PilatThe Advocate

THE teenager accused of killing his mother and siblings in Ellenbrook last Sunday pleaded with the magistrate not to send him to jail, saying “they’ll kill me in there”.

Teancum Vernon Petersen-Crofts (19) is charged with murdering his mother Michelle, sister Bella and brother Rua, and appeared in Midland Magistrates court today via video link from Graylands Hospital.

Despite being directed by a woman who was sitting next to the teenager, Petersen-Crofts pleaded with Magistrate Kevin Tavener not to send him to jail and instead leave him in the secure psychiatric facility, Frankland Centre.

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“If you’re going to send me to jail for 25 years I want to be in Frankland,” the accused said.

“How long will I be in jail for?

“They’ll kill me in jail.”

A legal aid representative requested for the matter to be adjourned and conducted in the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court, where homicides were dealt with on the last Wednesday of each month.

Having read a court ordered psychiatric report which also recommended the matter be transferred to the Stirling Gardens, Mr Tavener agreed.

Petersen-Crofts is due to appear via video link from the Frankland Centre at Graylands Hospital on Wednesday, July 25.