Bracks urged to end ethnic gang violence

July 17, 2007

THE mother of a teenager who could lose his sight in one eye after being bashed at a 16th birthday party wants Premier Steve Bracks to stop ethnic gang violence.

Joseph Lauretta, 17, was repeatedly bashed by up to 10 youths wielding machetes, baseball bats and iron bars after they gatecrashed the party in St Albans.

His mother, Rosanna, has written to the Premier seeking more police, tougher penalties for violent offenders and better education of migrant communities...

Joseph was one of eight teenagers injured when a gang of about 40 youths stormed the party at the St Albans Saints soccer club on July 6...

Some of the armed teenagers are believed to be members of the notorious SnK (St Albans and Kings Park) gang.

July 8, 2007

From party to bloodbath in 45 minutes.

The party initially had been quiet as most of the guests were under age and not drinking, he said. The attackers, who were mostly Asian, may have known some partygoers because they were talking to them before the attack.

The gang fled before police arrived, leaving behind eight injured people, three with serious knife wounds.