Teen charged with Layla Jeffery's murder appears in Children's Court, case delayed

A 16-year-old male, charged with the murder of 13-year-old Layla Jeffery, appeared before the Children’s Court of Victoria on video from a youth prison. The girl had been reported missing on July 5 and her body was located in bushland near Donald on July 9. Judge Jack Vandersteen, presiding over the court, concluded there were reasonable grounds to consider the teen the principal offender and approved a police request for a new DNA mouth swab, noting force could be used if the sample was not provided.

Chief Crown Prosecutor Kristie Churchill KC asked that the suspect’s previous DNA sample be destroyed before the new one is taken. The teenager complied with the swab order and the hearing was subsequently adjourned until September 10.