Perth teen murdered during fake drug deal gone wrong

A Perth teenager, Jaden Martinovich, faces life imprisonment after admitting to murdering a 17-year-old boy in August 2022. The incident happened during a botched drug deal where Martinovich tried to sell fake drugs, specifically bath salts, for $250. In court, it was revealed that Martinovich, then 18 and working as a car salesman, arranged the deal in a car park in North Perth. Unbeknownst to him, one of his friends had warned the 17-year-old about the scam. The victim and his friend attempted to steal Martinovich’s car in retaliation. A confrontation occurred, caught on camera by city rangers. The teenager brandished a hammer, while Martinovich wielded a knife. In the struggle, Martinovich stabbed the boy in the chest, hitting his heart. After the stabbing, Martinovich was recorded on his car’s dashcam boasting about the attack. The boy died several days later after heart surgery. Martinovich's lawyer described the situation as tragic and claimed there was no intention to kill. He noted that Martinovich came from a loving family and had opportunities in life. Since the incident, Martinovich has faced harassment from the victim's associates, leading to a serious injury. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11.