Overview
- Police had alleged a 17-year-old girl was forced into a vehicle near Keysborough Secondary College and taken across Melbourne, prompting arrests of an 18-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy.
- Court documents previously showed the older accused faced multiple counts including abducting with intent to marry without consent and unlawful imprisonment.
- The Armed Crime Squad formally withdrew the charges and told all parties of the decision, shifting the case from active prosecution to an evidentiary review.
- Victoria Police said any new information will be thoroughly assessed, but it gave no public explanation for why the charges were withdrawn.
- Because the case involves a minor victim and a juvenile accused, youth-justice privacy rules limit reporting and the outcome could hinge on evidentiary, procedural or new investigative developments.