It ended in the after-school brawl at Sunshine train station. Another three teenage males were also arrested and charged over the fight.
Croucher frequently paused to wipe his eyes with a tissue and compose himself as he read out harrowing victim impact statements from Lyhym’s family.
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Lyhym’s sister described how her brother’s murder had left a profound void in her heart, a wound that was so deep, she said, words could not adequately express her anguish.
Thoughts of what her brother endured in his final moments caused her such a sorrow and pain it felt as if her “heart was wrapped in spiked metal strings”.
Lyhym’s parents said their world had been shattered. The laughter that once filled their home has been replaced by tears and heartbreak.
“I hope no other family experiences this pain,” they said.
Croucher described it as a “horribly sad” case in which Lyhym and his killer were both so young and had their lives ahead of them.
“Some cases seem to grab hold of you more than others,” he said.
He took aim at rampant knife crime in Victoria, telling the court: “No good can come from carrying weapons like these.”
“It just has to stop,” he said.
Psychologists who assessed the killer noted he had a low intellect, PTSD and cognitive deficiencies, which meant he was easily influenced by his peers and more prone to impulsive or reactive behaviour.
Croucher said the teenager expressed remorse for his actions and the judge formed the view he acted on impulse, possibly with an intent “to harm or wound”, but not to kill Lyhym.
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He also noted the teenager had pleaded guilty to murder and had the support of a loving family and several of his current and former teachers, who often visited him in jail.
Croucher recommend the teenager spend the majority of his sentence in youth justice detention rather than adult prison to enable him to continue his studies and give him the best prospects of rehabilitation.
“I’m terribly sorry for your loss,” Croucher told Lyhym’s family, who sat in court and wept throughout the hearing.
“It is a horrible thing nobody should have to go through.”
The teenager was also given a six-month good behaviour bond for injuring another teenager during the train station brawl.
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