Gang leader held over murder

Thea Kheave was fatally stabbed last December.

February 11, 2008
DOUG ROBERTSON
The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia, Australia)

POLICE have arrested and charged the leader of a northern suburbs Asian gang for the murder of stabbing victim Thea Kheave in December.

The man, 20, of Paralowie, was arrested yesterday at Parafield Gardens and police have not ruled out further arrests.

Bail was refused and he is expected to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court today.

"Investigations into this murder are ongoing and further arrests cannot be ruled out," a police spokesman said.

The charged man, head of a gang known as Team Revolution or TR, was a victim of a firebombing at his home last Sunday.

It was one of two similar incidents that night and happened after several Asian youths rampaged a Gouger St karaoke club.

They were reportedly waving swords and knives and looking for a man.

The fire bombings happened shortly after the gang left the bar.

The family of Mr Kheave, 21, said he was not a gang member but he had had run-ins with Team Revolution several years ago.

Paramedics were unable to revive Mr Kheave, who died in the street after a fight with gatecrashers outside a party in Vartue St, Parafield Gardens, on December 2.

His three brothers, who were guests at the Vartue St party, said then they knew the attackers and that they feared retribution by the gang.

Their family had been forced to move home in the past three years because of escalating threats made by Cambodian gang members, they said.

Educated at Enfield High School, Mr Kheave was one of six siblings who left Cambodia with their parents 20 years ago.

Gang revenge fears [-Details on the stabbing death in Adelaide, Australia]

The stabbing victim his family want identified only as Thea. Picture supplied.

December 03, 2007
MICHAEL MILNES, POLICE REPORTER
The Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia)

GATECRASHING gang members are being blamed for the death of a northern suburbs man, stabbed on Saturday night at a Parafield Gardens party.

The family of the victim, 21, who want him referred to as Thea, believe gang members are responsible. They fear retribution.

Family members told The Advertiser yesterday they had been forced to move house after escalating threats by gang members in the past three years.

Thea's older brother, who did not want to be named, said Thea and his three brothers were at the Vartue St party as guests when the attack occurred.

"He (Thea) was never a gang member but someone said they wanted to kill him a few years ago because of who he was hanging around with," his brother said.

A source told The Advertiser yesterday about a northern suburbs gang, made up of mostly Asians, known as "Team Revolution" – or TR.

Elizabeth police would not comment on the existence of the gang but it is believed to be known to police. Vartue St resident Sam Chan told The Advertiser he called police about 10.30pm on Saturday, warning them he feared someone was going to get hurt "judging by the mood of the people in the street". He phoned the police again about midnight when 15 to 20 youths got out of cars in the street and ran to the house with weapons.

Thea's family said he only had been in trouble with police once. He was charged with possessing a knife. The family claimed that only was to defend himself after threats against him.

After the matter was resolved, his father sent him to Cambodia to "quiet him down".

Thea was one of six siblings who left Cambodia with their parents about 20 years ago.

"He loved his family and the Cambodian way of life," his older brother said. "We were hoping to go back there early next year to visit other family members". Thea left Enfield High School about three years ago. He hoped to become a house painter.

Major Crime Detectives ask for anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.