Ilias Sammy Latsis wins bid to overthrow guilty plea to child abduction charge

A man who previously pleaded guilty to stealing a car with a baby in the back seat will head to trial, after winning his bid to have his original plea overthrown.

A man who previously pleaded guilty to stealing a car with a baby in the back seat has had his bid to overturn his guilty plea to theft and child abduction granted in court. Picture: Seven News

A man who previously admitted to stealing a car with a baby in the back seat has won his bid to have his early guilty plea overturned.

Ilias Sammy Latsis, 37, previously told the Adelaide Magistrates Court he was high on meth, cannabis and valium at the time of his confession to the May 2022 incident, and asked the court to withdraw his guilty pleas to charges of child abduction and car theft.

On Thursday, magistrate Roderick Jensen said he was not convinced Latsis’ evidence was “convincing” enough, but agreed it was in the “interest of justice” to allow Latsis’ to withdraw his guilty plea to the child abduction charge, and instead list the matter for trial.

“I did not find Mr Latsis to be a convincing witness,” Mr Jensen said.

“In my view, he was evasive and at times argumentative. I consider that his evidence was guided by what might best suit his application, rather than his true recollection of events.”

He said evidence given by drug expert Professor Jason White did not support Latsis’ argument that he had no memory of days following his arrest due to drug use.

“Even if I accept, which I do not, that Mr Latsis consumed the amount of drugs he claimed to have consumed on May 30, Professor White‘s report and his evidence did not support a version of events in which Mr Latsis would have no memory of the days following.

“This observation is compounded by the video recordings of Mr Latsis’ arrest and subsequent interviews with police on May 30. In my view, none of those videos support Mr Latsis’ versions regarding drugs or the subsequent effects of it – rather, they show a man who was concerned about the situation he found himself in and who interacted with the police in a manner that might be expected of such a person.

“He was coherent and answered questions put to him in a manner capable of comprehension.”

Ilias Sammy Latsis pleaded guilty to child abduction and car theft charges after his arrest in May, 2022, before the pleas were struck out. Picture ABC NEWS

In May last year, Latsis pleaded guilty to one count of abducting a child, and two counts of driving or using a motor vehicle without consent after stealing a white Honda Jazz left outside a Klemzig deli.

CCTV footage of the incident shows him approaching the vehicle after the car’s owner, Erika Carter, ran into the deli and left her four-month-old baby in the back seat.

He is then seen getting in the driver’s seat of the Honda and taking off, as Ms Carter sprinted out to try and stop him.

Latsis’ earlier guilty pleas to car theft charges were thrown out. Picture: Seven News

Mr Latsis had previously told the court he had taken methamphetamine, cannabis and eight valium pills after the offending occurred, and did not remember the days that followed.

He told Mr Jensen the drugs had caused him memory loss, and he couldn’t remember instructing his first lawyer, Stephen Ey, to enter guilty pleas on his behalf.

During Latsis’ application to withdraw his confession, he told the court negative media attention over the incident was not a motive for the change.

“A little part of me was embarrassed, yes,” Mr Latsis said.

“People that know me know the person that I am. Doesn’t matter what the news stations say, that’s on them.”

Footage captured the moment Ms Carter tried to stop him. Picture: Seven News

In his reasons, Mr Jensen said he had questioned whether Latsis had taken the time to reflect on the significance of his plea before entering it, or if it was entered as a “play of convenience.”

“I think there is scope to conclude that it was more likely a play of convenience, born out of the technical approach on the part of Mr Latsis in order to avoid more serious charges and to secure the maximum discount on sentence,” Mr Jensen said.

“While there is a public interest in the finality of Mr Latsis’ plea, particularly because it avoids the delay and expense of a trial, and the possibility that witnesses will be required to give evidence, I find that in the circumstances the interest of justice favours allowing Mr Latsis to vacate the plea.

“I therefore grant his application to vacate his plea of guilty.”

The matter will return to court in April.

Originally published as Ilias Sammy Latsis wins bid to overthrow guilty plea to child abduction charge