A teenager accused of murdering 20-year-old Noah Keogh on Hobart’s waterfront on Saturday night will remain behind bars after being remanded in custody during his first court appearance.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced the Hobart Magistrates Court today charged with murder and wounding over the fatal Salamanca stabbing.
Magistrate Robert Webster ruled the court would stay open to media covering the case, despite the youth’s identity being protected by law.
He said the hearing would not be closed, as is usually the case for incidents involving young people, because it involved a prescribed matter.
While details that could identify the accused cannot be published, Magistrate Webster said the seriousness of the murder charge had changed the usual reporting circumstances.
The charges stem from an alleged altercation between two groups in the Morrison Street car park around midnight.
Keogh died from stab wounds, while his 23-year-old friend remains in the Royal Hobart Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
In court, the accused became emotional in the dock as around ten people known to him filled the public gallery.
Friends and family called out ‘love ya’ as the teenager cried into his hands.
Defence lawyer April Van der Meer asked for the matter to be adjourned without plea while she receives documentation from prosecutors.
The youth was remanded in custody and is due to return to court via video link on November 19.
Tasmania Police previously said the accused handed himself in after learning detectives were looking for him following the alleged murder.
