The man charged with the murder of a 15-year-old boy found dead in bushland allegedly told the teenager: “I’m going to cut off your bloody hand” before slashing him with a knife, a court was told. .
Emergency services were called to Wilton Park Rd in Wilton about 7.25am on Saturday and found the body of the Picton boy lying in bushland adjacent to the road.
Jacob Greig was arrested after attending Narellan Police Station shortly after 4pm on Saturday following a public appeal for information.
He was charged with murder and refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
Greig appeared via live video stream, and three of his family members attended in person.
The court was told the 15-year-old had attempted to open the rear passenger door of a vehicle Greig was in, and video and audio of the incident captured the teenager saying: “I’m trying to get home.”
At some point, Greig exited the vehicle and magistrate Robert Rabbidge said the footage had allegedly captured Greig saying: “I’ll get you good.”
He then allegedly said: “I’m going to cut off your f***ing hand,” the court was told.
Jacob Greig (pictured) has been charged with the alleged murder of a 15-year-old boy
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been remembered as the “most selfless boy”.
Greig allegedly told police he “cut the victim before returning to the vehicle,” Rabbidge said.
However, the court was told the footage allegedly showed Greig chasing the victim on foot.
“The facts indicate that prior to the injury… the accused had threatened to kill the young man and cut off his hand,” Mr Rabbidge said.
He said the boy was “bleeding profusely” after he was allegedly cut with the knife.
“It seems like a very strong case, I recognize that after having cut the young man with the knife causing the victim to suffer… a severe laceration to the right forearm… the victim begins to bleed profusely,” the magistrate said.
The boy allegedly tried to jump on the car as it was driving away, and his friends found him dead the next morning.
The court was told a trail of blood was found extending about 30 meters towards the end of Wilton Rd.
“Much would depend on the autopsy, which has not yet been performed, but I take note of the facts where it says that at 7:30 the next morning the victim’s friends walked out of the field… they found the (alleged) victim covered in blood,” said Mr Rabbidge.
Police swarmed an area southwest of Sydney after the body of a teenager was found in bushland on Wilton Park Rd in Wilton on Saturday.
The boy had been camping with a group of about 12 teenagers, police said.
Sawdust is shown on the road on Wilton Park Rd, near where the 15-year-old boy’s body was found.
Flowers have been laid on Wilton Park Rd.
He said there is “nothing more serious than the alleged murder of a 15-year-old boy.”
‘The facts are quite extraordinary and appear to show a considerable amount of powerful evidence.
“This is clearly an extraordinary case… Mr. Greig faces many decades in prison,” the magistrate said of the allegations, if proven.
“I must do my duty to the community and deny him bail.”
Police prosecutor McCormack said a blood-stained knife was found in a bin.
“I know that the (alleged) victim… was covered in a significant amount of blood in a grassy area,” McCormack told the court, with a blood trail “extending possibly 30 meters down the road… to the end.” from Wilton Park.
Greig’s aunt and two other family members appeared distraught during the proceedings, and the aunt broke down crying just outside the courtroom.
Defense lawyer Javid Faiz proposed a condition of house arrest, noting that the circumstances are “tragic.”
“I respectfully submit this, it is a tragic incident, whatever happened, and it is tragic that it happened to a 15-year-old boy,” Mr Faiz said.
Greig was denied bail in court on Sunday.
Lawyer Javid Faiz is pictured speaking to reporters outside court on Sunday.
He questioned whether the cause of death is Greig’s alleged crime, noting that “obviously some impact has occurred” after the boy jumped onto the car, driven by another person.
“We know there is some blood… about 30 meters from the road, we can see there is blood, but it is not clear… (whether it is) the result of a laceration or the result of the impact,” Faiz said.
“I propose a condition of house arrest that means that he cannot leave his residence in the absence of his aunt.”
Greig’s partner is expected to give birth to their son in a month, and his partner suffers from health problems including autism and panic disorder.
Greig works as a chef at Bargo Sports Bar while his partner is unemployed.
“The instructions I have been given are for him to be solely responsible for the care of the family,” Mr Faiz told the court.
—If they don’t release him today, Your Honor, that family will be affected.
Greig’s aunt burst into tears outside the courtroom
Greig’s relatives sat inside Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
Another relative of Greig went to court on Sunday
“This puts a lot of stress on the family and he is the only provider.”
Greig was refused bail and will next appear in a Campbelltown court on January 8, 2025.
Superintendent Tim Calaman told reporters Saturday that a group of about 12 teenagers had been camping in the area overnight.
None are accused of any crime.
Police believe the incident occurred on Friday night, but were not notified until 7.35am the following day.
The superintendent said it was a tragic event and his thoughts were with the boy’s family.
“The family and some friends are going to have a very hard time this afternoon as they go through this process,” he said.
The boy’s family was notified of his death on Saturday.