An 11-year-old boy made a brief first appearance in court on Tuesday charged with the murder of a 26-year-old man who was stabbed to death outside the Esplanade train station in the early hours of January 27 after Australia Day.
The boy, who is one of four people charged with murder, appeared via video link from Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre with his father by his side.
He remained quiet for most of the hearing, only softly speaking to say "yes" to the Perth Children's Court judge when asked if he understood the proceedings.
He will remain in custody to appear in court again on February 17 to submit an application for supervised bail.
Outside court, Nyoongar elder Ben Taylor gave an impassioned plea for something to be done to stop Aboriginal people suffering.
"As an Aboriginal elder, I'm very sad at all of this. A young 11-year-old boy running the streets at three o'clock in the morning... and all this feuding going on," he said.
"Where's the duty of care?
"Something has got to be done, I'm just tired as an elder, watching my people die so young."
At around 3.30am on January 27, the man was killed after a brawl broke out between two large groups.
St John Ambulance said the victim was found unconscious with no pulse and with wounds to his left shoulder and the left side of his head.
He later died at Royal Perth Hospital.
Two 19-year-old men and a third man, whose name and details have been suppressed, have also been charged with murder in relation to the incident.
