Teenager convicted of murder after stabbing GP six times

The 17-year-old who killed GP Dr Ash Gordon has been convicted of murder.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had broken into Dr Gordon’s Melbourne home in the early hours of 13 January 2024 after he noticed Dr Gordon’s Mercedes-Benz, prosecutors said.

Around 4am, the accused and his friend broke in through a partly opened garage door and stole shoes, headphones, laptops, a wallet and silver necklaces belonging to Dr Gordon.

Returning to their friend’s house, the boys “boasted about things they stole” and planned to return for the car.

The accused and several others then donned gloves, balaclavas, face masks and hats and broke in again.

However, Dr Gordon, 33, woke up and caught them in his house before chasing them onto the street.

He got into his car and chased three of the teens until they ended up in a nearby carport, where he got out and attempted to restrain the boy, warning “cops were on the way”.

The boy took out a knife and stabbed Dr Gordon six times, leaving him dying on the ground.

Two of the other boys returned after the accused yelled for help. One allegedly kicked Dr Gordon in the face before they fled.

The trio burned their clothing before meeting up the day after and discussed possibly fleeing to Papua New Guinea.

The accused was arrested three days after the stabbing.

In the Victorian Supreme Court, defence barrister Amelia Beech told the jury the teen admitted two counts of aggravated burglary and that he had stabbed Dr Gordon, causing his death.

However, he denied intending to kill or cause serious injury, arguing he was acting in self-defence.

The teen gave evidence during his trial, saying he had thought Dr Gordon had tried to kill him with his car and had continued advancing at him in the carport even when he had pulled out the knife.

The jury of 12 spent two days deliberating before coming to its guilty verdict on Wednesday.

The boy showed no emotion in the dock when the verdict was delivered.

Outside court, Dr Gordon’s sister, Natalie, said the verdict was the “biggest relief” after the “most gut-wrenching” fortnight in the trial.

“Unimaginable things … [The defence] tried to make him sound like such a monster, and [the jury] saw through it all,” she said.

Dr Gordon’s family described the GP as the life of the party and someone who made people smile.

“We can try to start to move forward — we will never move on — but move forward with our lives and remember him in the happiest ways, with his big smile and cheeky laugh,” Natalie Gordon said.

Dr Gordon’s mother, Catherine, said the only suitable punishment for the killer was “life, forever, never get out”.

“He took his life. A life for a life. It’s got to be life,” she tearfully told reporters.

“Ashley was still young. He still could have had children. He still could’ve got married.

“We don’t get any of that, so he doesn’t deserve to get any of that either.”