Killer of Ethan Hoac apologises in court, cites family's victim statement
One of three young men who killed 14-year-old Ethan Hoac has apologised in court.
In June 2023, Ethan Hoac was hit by a car and stabbed more than 30 times in St Albans, Melbourne. Three teenagers he did not know carried out the random attack.
One of the attackers, now 20, pleaded guilty to murder. The attacker appeared in Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday for a presentence hearing.
The attacker's barrister told the court he had "come to more fully appreciate" the impact of his crime. He heard victim impact statements, particularly from Ethan's mother Annie Huynh.
In a letter read to the court, he wrote: "I am deeply sorry for the hurt and pain my actions have caused you and your family." Ms Huynh had told the court she did not know why her son was chosen and asked if he had called her name as he died.
- 14 years old
- Victim's age
- More than 30
- Stab wounds
- St Albans, Melbourne
- Attack location
- 20 years old
- Attacker's current age
Why it mattersOffenders rarely apologise in court; this rare acknowledgement may offer some recognition to the family, though it cannot undo the loss.
AustraliaThis case marks a significant moment in a deeply painful Melbourne crime that shocked the community; victims' families rarely see such remorse expressed publicly by killers.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 d ago
