A 14-year-old boy accused of killing mother-of-three Rosa Maria Mercuri over an egging attack in Lalor has been released on bail.

The children's court this afternoon heard an ongoing dispute between two groups of males resulted in Mrs Mercuri's home being pelted with eggs about 8pm last night, triggering a car and foot chase and confrontation that ended with her stabbing death.

A Homicide Squad detective said the dispute had been "of a very minor nature.''

The boy, who cannot be named, was among five youths pursued by Mrs Mercuri, her husband Pat and 11-year-old daughter Chloe after their Tunbridge Crescent house was attacked.

The 40-year-old was wounded during a confrontation in nearby Curtin Avenue, and died despite frantic efforts of her husband to save her.



Police told the court the boy, who is facing a manslaughter charge, had been struck on the head by a knife during the scuffle with Mrs Mercuri.



"The knife that he was holding came back at him forcefully causing injury," the detective said.