Major twist as the son of an Aerobics Oz Style star says he was ‘carjacked’ when he fatally killed a teenager, as his mother, labeled “Australia’s greatest personal trainer,” raises her fist in court.
Jaden Martinovich, 18, has been charged with murder after the death of a minor.
During an encounter in north Perth, he allegedly stabbed the youngster in the chest.
His attorneys argued that he acted in self-defense during the purported carjacking.
Kelly Martinovich, a former Aerobics Oz Style celebrity from the 1990s, is his mother.
The juvenile son of a former television celebrity accused of murdering a 17-year-old by stabbing him to death says he was defending himself during a carjacking.
On August 27, Jaden Martinovich, 18, reportedly stabbed the 17-year-old in the heart after a failed drug sale in North Perth.
The accusation against Mr. Martinovich, whose mother is former Aerobics Oz Style actress Kelly Martinovich, was raised to murder following the death of the 17-year-old on Friday.
Mr. Martinovich did not enter a plea when he appeared in court on Saturday, but his attorney maintained he acted in self-defense during an attempted carjacking.
His mother, who was described as “Australia’s finest personal trainer,” wept as her son was brought away, albeit she raised her fist in support of him many times.
Police claim dashcam video acquired in Mr. Martinovich’s vehicle after the stabbing reportedly showed him stating, “I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight knowing I’ve stabbed a knife into some scumbag’s critical organs.”
“It’s fantastic, I adore doing that!”
Jaden Martinovich (left) and his mother, Kelly, who defended him in court last week. Ms. Martinovich is an aerobics celebrity from the 1980s and 1990s who appeared on the television program Aerobics Oz Style.
Prosecutors claim that police possess dashcam audio from Martinovich’s vehicle on the night of the alleged event in which he is suspected of purchasing a bag of sea salt under the pretext that it was the narcotic meth (pictured, left, with his mother Kelly)
On Saturday, Mr. Martinovich was remanded in custody and will return to court later this month.
Initially, he was charged with inflicting serious bodily injury to the 17-year-old kid, but following the youngster’s death, the charge was raised to murder.
The West Australian stated that prosecutors claim police had dashcam audio from Martinovich’s vehicle on the night of the alleged event in which he is suspected of purchasing a bag of sea salt under the pretense that it was the narcotic meth.
Martinovich reportedly planned a heroin transaction with the victim over social media before traveling with two teenage accomplices to a parking lot near Bourke Street.
After a brief talk, police prosecutors will argue that the victim got into his vehicle and drove away while his two companions remained inside.
Martinovich is then said to have pursued the vehicle, opened the driver’s door, and instructed the victim to “come out, I have a knife”
The suspect is then accused of stabbing the 17-year-old in the heart.
His mother was an aerobics celebrity in the 1980s and 1990s, when she appeared on the famous Channel 10 program Aerobics Oz Style, which lasted for 23 years and 6,000 episodes, until 2005.
Mrs. Martinovich is not implicated in any capacity in the alleged crime.
Martinovich, 18, was initially charged with inflicting severe bodily injury to the 17-year-old kid after an altercation on North Perth’s Bourke Street about 9:30 p.m. on August 27; however, the charge has been raised to murder.
After a court hearing last week, Martinovich was granted stringent bail with $25,000 deposited for bond and a $100,000 surety.
Last Monday, Ms. Martinovich appeared in Perth Magistrates Court to support her son with the teen’s father, Levi.
Mrs. Martinovich and her husband Levi Martinovich declined to talk with the media as they left the courthouse in an SUV.
Mr. Martinovich was granted free on Wednesday, prior to his aggravated assault accusation being escalated to murder, after posting a $25,000 bond and his parents posting a $100,000 surety.
Friends of the victim’s family who cannot be identified for legal reasons eulogized him following his passing.
One commented on social media, “My little brother, you’ve grown wings today and shown us that nothing is permanent; we shall all miss you till the end of time; you were and remain such an essential part of everyone’s lives.”
“God has selected you to be an angel to watch over all your brothers and sisters, and I’m sorry this had to happen, but you will be missed by everyone since you had such a profound effect on everyone you encountered.”