
— With AAP.
On March 15, Sydney teenager Justin Tsang disappeared from his Canada Bay home.
The 17-year-old was reported missing after his family had not seen or heard from him for four days.
Four days later, on March 19, Justin’s body was discovered in a shallow grave at Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains.
Now, a week later, three teenagers have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and murdering the 17-year-old.
Alleged ring leader Yigit Erdogan, 19, and 18 year olds Chris Hopkinson and Joel Robertson faced Burwood Local Court on Thursday, as it was heard that Justin had been “physically assaulted for hours and hours” before he died.
Detectives said Justin pleaded for his life as he was tortured before he was killed.
“You could say it’s torture,” Detective Superintendent Scott Cook told reporters on Thursday.
“There was some suggestion he was pleading for his life. It’s very sad.”
Detectives from the Homicide Squad charge three men over the alleged murder of 17yo Justin Tsang #BurwoodHeights #StrikeForceLieberthttps://t.co/aLLeBlX2VX pic.twitter.com/GY3EeC7B6V
— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) March 27, 2019
The detective said the motive appeared to be related to a dispute over property.
Court documents suggest Justin was kidnapped and assaulted with the intention of obtaining $500 cash.
“It’s very concerning in a sense that if the underlying motive is a property dispute how can that escalate to torture,” Det Supt Cook said.
“It really is disturbing.”
Detectives on Wednesday searched a Burwood Heights house and arrested four men – including Hopkinson and Robertson.
Top Comments
It’s shocking, how cheaply some people value another person’s life. All that for $500?