SA court told alleged victim of Vince and Giuseppe Focarelli leapt into path of moving truck to escape bashing at their hands
WATCH security footage of a chaotic chase through the city and suburbs that allegedly culminated in a terrified man leaping into the path of a moving truck to escape notorious gangster Vince Focarelli and his son.
A DISTRESSED, wailing and terrified man leapt into the path of a moving truck to escape Vince Focarelli’s son as the former gang leader watched and shrugged, a court has heard.
Today, witnesses told the Adelaide Magistrates Court of a high-speed chase through the north-eastern suburbs, the CBD and up Magill Rd.
Giving evidence, architect Luke Jones said he witnessed the “chaotic” climax to the chase on Norton Summit Rd as he followed a truck into the Adelaide Hills.
“My attention was grabbed by a highly distressed man running out from the southern side of the road, right in front of the truck ... (he) leapt in front of it,” he said.
“I had my window down and I heard him wailing in a distressed and pathetic state, quite loudly, and I thought there was a large amount of terror in his voice.
“I’d never heard anything like it ... I couldn’t articulate any words.”
The driver of the truck, Glynn Smith, told the court he had first thought the man was attempting to kill himself — but then saw a second man attack him.
“The first man was trying to protect himself with his hands over his face while the second man punched him four times,” he said.
“The punches were quite severe, I certainly wouldn’t have liked to be on the end of them.”
“There was a third man who just watched ... he turned around and looked at me and shrugged his shoulders.”
Vince, 40 — who has survived six attempts on his life — and Giuseppe, 19, have pleaded not guilty to one aggravated count each of assault causing harm.
Prosecutors have alleged they attacked and bashed the man at Teringie, in the Adelaide foothills, in November 2013.
It is alleged that incident followed a car chase that ended with the alleged victim getting into the Focarellis’ car, at Playhouse Lane, in a way that “should be perceived as an abduction”.
The troubled trial started in January but was then delayed because prosecutors and SA Police were unable to locate the alleged victim.
Prosecutors submitted they should be allowed to use the testimony of police and other witnesses to prove the victim was afraid of Vince Focarelli.
Defence counsel submitted such evidence amounts to hearsay given the alleged victim’s prior, public statements that he does not want the case to proceed.
However, the court ruled the statements were admissible and ordered the trial continue.
Today, witness Zack Burgess said he saw two cars chase a third along North East Rd and Melbourne St before turning off, at high speed, toward the Adelaide Zoo.
“They’d speed up, slow down and change lanes quite vigorously,” he said.
“We were travelling at 45km/h ... when a car comes from one set of traffic lights and beats you to the next set, it’s not doing 45km/h.”
Taxi driver David Frick said he saw each of the three cars mount the kerb at the corner of Rundle St and Pulteney St, in front of Hungry Jack’s, as they ran a red light.
Bus driver Reginald Thomson said two of the cars overtook him on his right, and the third on his left, as he drove along Currie St toward Morphett Rd.
Prosecutors have tendered CCTV footage from Mr Thomson’s bus and traffic cameras at the intersection of Rundle St and Pulteney St.
In his evidence, Mr Jones said he stopped 50m behind the truck — which also stopped — when the alleged victim ran out on Norton Summit Rd.
“Immediately following that, two males appeared from the same southern side of the road, following the first chap in front of the truck,” he said.
“They grabbed the first chap in what I saw as an agricultural (sic) wrestle and manhandled him back to the southern side of the road.”
Mr Jones said the man broke away from his assailants and ran toward the truck again, but was “dragged back” once more.
He described an agricultural wrestle as “two chaps grabbing one chap forcefully and pulling him back in the direction from which he had come”.
Mr Jones said the man broke away a second time and ran to the truck.
“This was a bit of a chaotic scene, from my observation, and the activity was heading in my direction so I became a little fearful and concerned, instinctively, for my safety,” he said.
He said he turned his car around, back toward Magill Rd, drove a distance of 20m and called 000.
Mr Smith said the alleged victim “jumped on to” the side of his truck and “pleaded” for assistance.
“He was pleading for me to drive on, and I said I wasn’t going to drive on because he would fall off and I would run him over,” he said.
“He said ‘ring the police’ and I said ‘I can do that for you’ and proceeded to dial 000.”
The trial continues on Wednesday.