A teenager on trial over the fatal group attack on 14-year-old Ethan Hoac in St Albans, Melbourne, has told the court that his actions were "reckless" rather than evil, as he seeks to distance himself from a murder charge. Prosecutors allege the defendant ran Ethan down with a car and had eaten ice cream beforehand, a detail they say points to a callous state of mind, while his defence argues this does not amount to premeditated intent to kill. The case is being closely watched as part of a wider prosecution into a group attack that shocked the local community.

According to the case as reported, Ethan Hoac was struck by a vehicle before other members of the group allegedly inflicted fatal injuries with a weapon while he was defenceless. The teenager giving evidence maintains his conduct, though violent, fell short of malice, focusing the court's attention on the precise legal threshold between recklessness and intent to kill. The proceedings continue as part of the broader Melbourne group-attack case involving multiple accused.