A Brisbane teenager convicted of a brutal murder has had his appeal to reduce his lengthy prison sentence dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The youth, who was 17 at the time of the fatal stabbing, had argued his 12-year sentence was excessive and that the crime was not “particularly heinous.” However, the appellate court upheld the original sentencing, finding no grounds to alter the punishment for the “heinous” act.
Background of the Fatal Attack
The case stems from an incident in May 2024 in Acacia Ridge, a suburb in Brisbane’s south. The then-17-year-old attacked 19-year-old Abddullahi Ahmed Iyow, inflicting multiple stab wounds to the victim’s arm, hand, leg, and abdomen with a large hunting knife. The court heard that the attack occurred after a dispute arose while the pair were walking to a park. The perpetrator later confessed to police that the stabbing was motivated by Mr. Ahmed Iyow smashing his phone earlier that day, an act that he claimed led to the loss of his drug dealing contacts.
During questioning, the teenager expressed disturbing sentiments regarding the attack. Court documents reveal he stated that Mr. Ahmed Iyow “deserved that shit,” that he “should have done it earlier,” and hoped the victim had “learned his lesson.” He also indicated indifference to Mr. Ahmed Iyow’s potential death, citing disrespect as the reason.
Mr. Ahmed Iyow was rushed to a hospital following the assault and underwent emergency surgery. Despite life support measures, he succumbed to his injuries on June 18, 2024. His family described their lives as “shattered” by the loss of their “vibrant teenager with his whole life ahead of him.”
Original Sentencing and Court Findings
In April 2025, the teenager was sentenced in the Supreme Court to 12 years’ imprisonment. The sentencing judge mandated that he serve at least 70 percent of this term before becoming eligible for release. The judge characterized the murder as “particularly heinous,” emphasizing that it was largely unprovoked.
The court proceedings were not without incident. During the sentencing hearing, the brother of Abddullahi Ahmed Iyow reportedly lunged at the teenager with a pen, causing minor injuries. The brother was subsequently charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.
Psychiatric Evaluation and Offender Profile
A psychiatrist’s report presented to the court offered significant insight into the teenager’s state of mind and background. The offender described the act of stabbing as “joyful” and “felt good,” attributing his “addiction to stabbing” to past trauma. He also admitted to consuming alcohol, Xanax, cannabis, and codeine syrup in the two days preceding the fatal incident.
While the teenager had no official criminal record, he acknowledged involvement in prior gang-related activities, including a kidnapping that had not been reported to the police. The psychiatrist diagnosed him with severe conduct disorder, antisocial personality traits, PTSD, and oppositional defiance disorder, noting he met the criteria for an intellectual disability. The report also flagged him as being at an elevated risk of committing future violent offenses.
The Appeal and its Outcome
In July of the current year, the teenager, who cannot be identified due to Queensland’s youth justice laws, lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal. His legal team argued that the 12-year sentence was “manifestly excessive” and that the sentencing judge erred in classifying the murder as “particularly heinous.” The appeal submission also contended that the judge failed to adequately consider the rehabilitation steps the teenager had reportedly taken since his conviction.
However, this week, Justices David Boddice, Shane Doyle, and Debra Mullins AO of the Court of Appeal jointly dismissed the application. The justices found no sufficient reason to interfere with the original sentence, confirming the 12-year imprisonment term and the 70 percent non-parole period. The decision means the teenager will continue to serve the sentence handed down by the Supreme Court for the violent and fatal stabbing.
