Backpacker attack accused 'had robbed hours earlier'

THE twins charged with a vicious attack on Scottish backpacker Mark Willis in Australia had robbed a sleeping man on a train at knife-point only hours earlier, police have revealed.

The identical 13-year-old twins will spend their 14th birthday behind bars after being remanded in custody by a children's court in Sydney as Mr Willis, 25, continued to fight for his life in hospital following emergency brain surgery.

The twins, of Middle Eastern origin, and a 17-year-old are also accused of robbing a man of his wallet and mobile phone as he travelled on a train from the city.

Police documents allege that the three youths and a 16-year-old friend struck up a conversation with Mr Willis, from Glasgow, and his girlfriend, Jane McLean, in the early hours of on Wednesday.

Mr Willis gave the boys cigarettes, but the conversation turned confrontational after the youths began making derogatory remarks about Mr Willis's Scottish accent.

The four youngsters will appear in court again on 20 May.