Girls on spree after slaying, court told

A New Zealand-born girl and another 14-year-old who are accused of murdering a disabled Sydney taxi-driver were also involved in an armed robbery a day after his death, a Sydney court has been told.

The girls chose not to appear yesterday in Lidcombe Children's Court, where they were refused bail on charges of murder, car stealing and aggravated robbery.

The girls, who are cousins, are accused of bashing Youbert Hormozi and leaving him to die in Parklea Parade at Canley Heights, in Sydney's southwest, early on Tuesday.

Mr Hormozi, 53, suffered severe head injuries and died on the way to hospital.

He had only recently returned to work following a stroke.

The girls are alleged to have stolen Mr Hormozi's taxi before dumping it in nearby Bonnyrigg when they hit a parked car.

Police said the pair were arrested at Strathfield train station on Wednesday night after being detained by CityRail transit officials.

According to the police charge sheet, the girls had armed themselves with a knife earlier in the night and tried to rob two people in Yennora.

They then robbed a third person of A$50 in Strathfield. They were arrested soon after.

Police said it was during questioning about these crimes that evidence came to light of the girls' involvement in Mr Hormozi's death.

They have each been charged with murder, aggravated robbery, stealing a motor vehicle, two counts of attempted robbery armed with an offensive weapon and one count of robbery with an offensive weapon.

The girls chose to remain in their cells as their Legal Aid lawyer, Aaron Pang, said they would not apply for bail.

The case will be back before the court on March 30.

- NZPA