At only 18 years old, he was already accused of murder and yesterday police added attempted murder and robbery to Francis Petillo's growing rap sheet. Well faster than you say can ‘dismissed' today the DPP's office withdrew the murder and attempted murder charges against the 18 year old.
As 7NEWS _first reported last night, yesterday in court Petillo was arraigned (See Teen charged for Phillip Gallaty Ambush) for attempted murder, robbery, grievous harm, use of deadly means of harm, and conspiracy charges for the broad daylight ambush of businessman Phillip Galatty in March. Well it took 24 hours for the DPP's office to have a change of heart because today the 18 year old was brought back before a Magistrate and most of those same charges, with the exception of the robbery count, were withdrawn. In addition prosecutors also withdrew a murder charge against Petillo for the May 1st robbery and murder of wholesaler Hilberto Aragon. On May 13th Petillo was originally charged with Basil Willis for that crime and was remanded to the Hattieville Prison since.
The only charge the 18-year-old now has pending is robbery for that he was granted bail of $5,000 and 2 sureties amounting to the same amount. Francis Petillo is tonight out on bail.