A group of children have been accused of bashing shopkeeper Van Viet Truong as he lay bleeding on the concrete, with some of the alleged attackers already released back into the community.

The 60-year-old grocery shop owner was trying to stop a group of youths from allegedly robbing a clothing store two doors away in Sunshine, in Melbourne’s west, on Saturday when he was allegedly attacked by the group, aged between 12 and 15.

He died on Wednesday evening as a result of his injuries.  

The alleged offenders appeared in a children’s court on Friday, where new details of the alleged crime were aired in open court.

A police prosecutor explained there were actually three alleged victims that day, the other two being a 64-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman.

Both were shopkeepers at a clothing store two doors down from Mr Truong, who had run Hong Hung Asian Grocers with his wife and mother-in-law for more than 20 years.

The court heard that at 2.05pm, two 14-year-old girls entered Diamond Valley Fashion Store on Hampshire Road with the alleged intention of stealing.

They were accompanied by four other youths, including a 15-year-old boy who has since been charged with Mr Truong’s manslaughter.

Van Viet Truong, known as Jimmy, was allegedly bashed while on the ground bleeding out 

‘A witness observed two females carrying the stolen items and confronted them, yelling “Stop”. (The 64-year old) attempted to retrieve the clothing items back from (the girls), which resulted in a struggle,’ the prosecutor said. 

‘During the struggle for the clothing, a group of four to five circled (the 64-year old)  and began to punch him in the head multiple times. 

‘At this time, (the 54-year old) struggled with one of the females for the pair of pants.’

The court heard the girls allegedly struck the male shopkeeper in the face, forcing his colleague to intervene to ‘protect him’.

‘Truong came to (the man’s) aid and attempted to stop the group. All co-accused collectively turned on Truong and attacked him,’ the prosecutor said. 

‘A male offender, described as five foot eight, dragged Truong to the ground, causing his head to hit the ground.’

The court heard a witness described the sound of Mr Truong’s head hitting the ground as a ‘cracking sound’. 

‘The group, inclusive of males and females, struck Truong repeatedly whilst he was on the ground,’ the prosecutor said. 

One witness later told police Truong was observed ‘changing colours’, was not moving, and had ‘bubble sounds coming from his mouth’.

The shop where shopkeeper Van Viet Truong worked alongside his wife and mother-in-law

The accused allegedly robbed this clothes store before Van Viet Truong bravely intervened

The court heard the two clothes shop retailers begged the group to stop the alleged attack, but it fell upon deaf ears. 

‘The attack continued for minutes before one of the group said, “run, run”,’ the prosecutor said. 

The court heard all of the alleged offenders fled toward Sunshine Railway Station. 

Police attended minutes later where Mr Truong was observed to have suffered traumatic head injuries. 

All of the alleged offenders were quickly rounded up by authorities, with multiple youths promptly released on bail. 

Two boys, 12 and 15, and two girls, both 14, have been charged with affray, violent disorder, intentionally causing serious injury and intentionally causing injury.

The 15-year-old boy has also been charged with manslaughter.

A 13-year-old boy also charged along with the group has since had his charges withdrawn.

 Van Viet Truong was caught on CCTV as he bravely intervened

On Friday, those that were locked up were released on bail – all except the 15-year old charged with manslaughter. 

During one bail application, the court heard a submission from one of the female accuseds that her hearing ought be held in secret because she’d copped criticism on social media. 

It was a submission promptly rejected by the presiding magistrate, who none-the-less, let the alleged offender walk free on bail. 

‘Compelling reasons are established,’ she said. 

‘The applicant is 14. A child’s judgment may be significantly impaired by their age. The child has no criminal history, no bail history, no history of non-compliance. It’s submitted that the child had a limited role in the alleged offending.’