THE mother of the teenager accused of murdering 18-year-old Lewis McPherson wept as she waited to see her son enter the dock.

The youth, who is just a week shy of his 18th birthday and therefore cannot be named, appeared in Adelaide Youth Court yesterday charged with murder and firearms offences after the New Year's Eve shooting of Mr McPherson, at Warradale.

The slightly built teen made no eye contact with his parents, who sat in the body of the court for the hearing. His mother wept as she clutched a small red teddy bear.

Under state laws, the youth will be held on remand in a youth training centre instead of an adult prison while prosecutors and police finalise the case against him.

The seriousness of the charge means it is likely prosecutors will apply to have the teen tried as an adult. But,if he is ultimately convicted, he will still have the benefit of being sentenced under the state's Young Offenders Act.

The act stipulates youths convicted of murder are not subject to a mandatory 20- year non-parole period and that judges must fashion a sentence with the offender's rehabilitation as a priority.

The alleged killer's lawyer asked Magistrate Lydia Makiv to order a report on whether there was a suitable address for home detention before a formal bail application later this month.

Prosecutors asked that a report be prepared about the alleged killer's background, and psychiatric state before the bail application.

Ms Makiv remanded the youth in detention to appear in court again on January 16.

Yesterday, friends of Mr McPherson, who was a talented volleyball player, continued to gather at the shooting scene.

Mr McPherson, friend Liam Trewartha and another friend were walking to a New Year's Eve party on Railway Tce when they were allegedly confronted by the accused who opened fire.

media_camera Shooting victim Lewis Mcpherson, in a picture from Twitter.