'They're scared and crying': court releases video and audio of Broome man who detained Aboriginal children

Matej Radelic has pleaded not guilty to three charges of common aggravated assault.

Broome KIDS ZIPTIED WEB HERO.jpg

Matej Radelic (left) was charged with three counts of common aggravated assault after he zip tied three children together in March this year.

A Broome man who zip-tied three Aboriginal children told police officers he wanted 'consequences' for them after they used his pool without permission.

Matej Radelic, 46, appeared before Broome magistrates court on Thursday charged with three counts of common aggravated assault.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case made headlines after images of the three young children, tied together at the wrists, spread online following the March 5 incident.

In documents released by the court, Mr Radelic can be seen speaking with police officers, who attended the scene after he called emergency services.

"Every time this happens, there's no consequences for anyone," he tells police.

"Are they going to pay for it? Are they going to take their Centrelink payments to pay for it?"

One of the officers says he can "understand" Mr Radelic's frustration.

"Unfortunately, due to their age, there's not much [that's] going to happen..." the officer says.
The court also released the audio of Mr Radelic's call to 000.

"I want to report a break in ... I caught three kids. I've got them tied up ... with cable ties," he tells the operator.

When Mr Radelic guesses that they are aged around five or six years old, the operator asks whether the children are injured at all.

"No, they're just scared and crying," he says.

"No wonder," the operator replies.

A relative told The West Australian in March that the children had been bound so tight that the skin of their wrists had been broken and was bleeding.

The case is ongoing.

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2 min read

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By Dan Butler
Source: NITV


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'They're scared and crying': court releases video and audio of Broome man who detained Aboriginal children | SBS NITV