Townsville court hears bail applications for seven co-accused over alleged teen torture

A 15-year-old alleged torturer will be assessed for an electronic monitoring device in an attempt to apply for bail, while the court has heard several co-accused also intend to apply for bail, after a 17-year-old with an intellectual disability was found bashed, zip-tied and wrapped in plastic in bushland.

Seven co-accused faced Townsville Magistrates Court charged with a string of offences including torture after the teenager was found in bushland in Pallarenda on July 18.

The police prosecutor told the court several people were gathered at a house when two relatives of the victim made allegations about the victim, which led to the alleged assault.

The prosecutor said the group, which had moments before been socialising, allegedly kicked the victim and whipped him with a "horse whip" leaving him "crawling out onto the road".

Police allege the assault continued, with more alleged perpetrators arriving in a vehicle and allegedly continuing to strike the victim with a bat and a metal implement and stomping on him.

Police allege the victim was then wrapped in industrial clear plastic with his legs zip-tied together, put in the boot of a vehicle before being dumped in bushland.

Police prosecutor Harriet Hearn told the court the victim needed surgery as he had sustained a broken nose, spinal fracture, fractured tibia, friction burns, and lacerations.

Days after prior offending

The court was told the accused 15-year-old allegedly committed the torture offence the day after receiving a warning from the court for other offending.

"This is some of the most serious types of offences we might see in this court … yet alone offences that have been committed by a juvenile," Ms Hearn said.

The 15-year-old's defence lawyer, Sarah Belford, said the case against her client was "circumstantial" and that he was party to the offences, not a participant.

Police allege his fingerprints were found on the industrial plastic wrap.

'Outrageous' allegations

Magistrate Steven Mosch said the 15-year-old had a "limited" but "recent" criminal history and that the "exceptionally serious" new charges were an "escalation".

"The allegations are outrageous," he said.

Magistrate Mosch said it could be 12 months before the matters were finalised before the court, but he needed assurance the 15-year-old would comply with bail conditions, if granted.

The matter was adjourned to August 13 for Youth Justice to carry out a suitability assessment for the use of an electronic monitoring device for the 15-year-old.

Meanwhile, police will check the suitability of the addresses submitted by three co-accused who intend to apply for bail. Their cases were adjourned to August 10.

The cases of another three co-accused were also adjourned until August 10.