Teen admits manslaughter of Oscar Hamilton but denies murder in Melbourne shopping centre stabbing trial

A Victorian Supreme Court jury has watched footage of a fatal shopping centre stabbing as a 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder.

The accused, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, admitted on Monday to the manslaughter of Oscar Hamilton, 16, but pleaded not guilty to murder, arguing he did not intend to kill or seriously hurt the victim.

Prosecutors rejected the manslaughter plea and are proceeding with a single count of murder.

Attack at Woodgrove Shopping Centre

Crown prosecutor Erin Ramsay told jurors Oscar, 16, was killed at Woodgrove Shopping Centre in Melton, west of Melbourne, about midday on September 24, 2024.

Oscar was seated in the outdoor dining area with his girlfriend and two other friends when the accused, then 15, approached and asked to speak to him, Ms Ramsay said.

CCTV footage played to the jury showed the pair talking for about a minute before Oscar turned and walked back to his friends. The accused followed, pushed one of Oscar's friends out of the way, and allegedly threatened to stab them all.

The teenager then called his ex-girlfriend and asked her if what she had said was true, the court heard.

Oscar denied doing anything wrong before the younger boy grabbed him by the collar, pushed him, and stabbed him three times in the chest, Ms Ramsay said.

"The third stab wound went right into Oscar's heart and killed him," she told the court.

"Manslaughter is insufficient in the circumstances of this case."

The accused fled the scene while Oscar's friends called triple zero and others performed first aid. Despite their efforts, Oscar died at the scene.

Members of Oscar's family were in tears as the attack footage was played, with the accused sitting metres away in the court dock.

Alleged motive

Ms Ramsay said the accused had been told by his ex-girlfriend — who he had dated for only a week — that Oscar had sexually assaulted her. The allegation was disclosed a day before the attack.

The prosecutor said the unproven sexual assault allegation was the motive for the murder, but told the jury it was not their role to determine whether the allegation was true.

Oscar's friends would testify that Oscar denied doing anything wrong, Ms Ramsay said.

There was no mention in court of the girl going to police or making any formal claim.

Phone calls and detention

The accused called his ex-girlfriend after the incident, apologising and saying he didn't mean to do it, jurors were told. He was arrested at his friend's home later that evening.

Recorded phone calls from youth detention showed the accused initially said he wanted to marry his ex-girlfriend, but later called her a "bitch", said he "came in here for nothing", and said "even if (Oscar) didn't touch her, I would have done it", Ms Ramsay said.

The teenager was "infatuated" with the girl, the prosecutor said, and later called his mum from youth detention hoping the girl would marry him.

Defence case

Defence barrister Richard Edney said his client admitted causing Oscar's death but was not guilty of murder.

The key issue in the trial is the accused's intention at the time of the stabbing, Mr Edney said.

He described the case as "desperately sad and tragic" and warned the jury against deciding the case based on emotion or sympathy.

The trial before Justice John Champion is expected to run for two weeks. Witnesses will include Oscar's friends at the scene, teenagers, police, and medical experts.