Youth Court magistrate tells accused car thief ‘You need to wake up to yourself’ following horror Southern Expressway crash
A GANG of teenage car thieves may have been in a street race with a Holden Barina that crashed into a truck on the Southern Expressway, a court has heard, as a magistrate refused to release them on bail.
- Five arrests after horrific crash on Southern Expressway
- David Penberthy: Throw the book at reckless drivers who kill
A GANG of teenage car thieves may have been involved in a street race with a Holden Barina that crashed into a truck on the Southern Expressway, a court has heard.
Magistrate Luke Davis on Tuesday told one of the teenagers “you need to wake up to yourself” as he refused to consider any form of bail.
He later told another teenager accused of being part of the gang of teenage car thieves “I’m just stunned you’re expecting to get out on bail — get real”.
Police are investigating whether the $114,000 black Mercedes-Benz allegedly stolen by the teenagers triggered a serious crash on the Southern Expressway.
Police prosecutor Brevet Sergeant Vigar told the court the Mercedes and a Holden Barina collided on the Southern Expressway and hit a truck at 12.53pm on Monday and “both vehicles had perhaps being racing”.
The Barina driver is fighting for his life in hospital.
Five teenagers — three boys and two girls — were arrested and charged with several theft and traffic offences over the crime spree.
All five appeared in the Youth Court on Tuesday and were remanded in custody.
A 17-year-old boy from Modbury North— the alleged driver of the Mercedes — is charged with two aggravated counts of driving dangerously to escape police pursuit, one aggravated count of trespassing in a residence, two counts of driving a motor vehicle without consent, one count of dishonestly taking property without consent, one count of failing to stop, assist and present to police after an accident, and one count of failing to answer police questions.
A 17-year-old youth of no fixed address is charged with one aggravated count of serious criminal trespass, one aggravated count of dishonestly taking property without consent, one aggravated count of assault, two counts of driving a motor vehicle without consent, two counts of unlawful possession and two counts of failing to answer police questions.
A 16-year-old boy from Largs Bay is charged with one aggravated count of trespassing in a residence, dishonestly taking property without consent and driving a motor vehicle without consent.
A 16-year-old girl from Cavan and a 17-year-old girl from Christie Downs are each charged with serious criminal trespass, dishonestly taking property without consent, driving a motor vehicle without consent and failing to answer police questions.
In opposing bail for the Christie Downs girl, police prosecutor Brevet Sergeant Vigar said the teenager was part of a group that forced entry into a house at St Clair by jemmying a laundry door.
Bvt-Sgt Vigar said the victim reported property worth $9400 was stolen sometime between 1.30am and 9.45am on Sunday, December 4.
Items included $40,000 in jewellery, a $3000 work bag, $5000 in cash, a $600 wallet containing $500 in cash, a driver’s licence, bank cards and car keys.
He said the victim reported his 2014 black Mercedes, worth $114,000, was stolen the next day between 9am and 9.30am.
The girl was arrested near where the car was eventually dumped on Newcastle Crs at Cavan, following an “extensive” pursuit by police.
Lawyers for the girl said that, while she was a passenger in the car, there was “no real evidence” linking her to the theft or break-in.
Mr Davis said he was not prepared to order home detention or bail inquiry reports and remanded the girl in custody until Friday, when another bail application will be made.
In opposing bail for the Largs Bay youth, Bvt-Sgt Vigar said the teenager had a “reasonable criminal history”.
He said the black Mercedes and another vehicle collided on the Southern Expressway at 12.53pm on Monday and that “both vehicles had perhaps being racing”.
Mr Davis said the youth had no business being in the Mercedes and that the illegal use was at the “higher end of that type of offending”.
“This is a classic example of things going wrong because people like you make a stupid, selfish decision,” Mr Davis said.
“If you race on the Southern Expressway in a stolen car and someone gets hurt ... if you participate as a passenger ... getting some kicks out of that, the court will treat it seriously.
“You need to wake up to yourself. I want you to start thinking about what you want to do with your life when you get out.”
The 17-year-old youth of no fixed address was also berated by Mr Davis.
“You’re showing every sign of progressing through the Youth Justice Court in the worst possible way,” Mr Davis said.
“I’m just stunned you’re expecting to get out on bail — get real.”
Mr Davis described the offending as “premeditated, brazen and serious”.
Lawyers for the Modbury North youth who allegedly drove the stolen car said the case against their client was “pretty flimsy” and asked Mr Davis to order a home detention bail report, which was refused.
“I’m of the view that there’s ample evidence to sink your bail application completely,’’ Mr Davis said.
Outside court, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement chairman Tauto Sansbury said he was disturbed by the latest incident, which he described as “totally unacceptable”.
“It sounds like they crashed along the lines that they were drag-racing,” he said.
“I’m quite concerned about the offences that were committed.
“I think both us in the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community are failing many kids, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal.
“I don’t see any rehabilitative program within the criminal justice system.”
The owner of the Mercedes, who did not wish to be named, said it was “a bit of a shock” to learn his car may have been involved in a serious crash.
“(It’s) a little bit scary,” he said. “It’s sad to see somebody get hurt.”
The man said the thieves took two sets of keys when they broke in but did not think they would be so brazen as to return to the scene of the crime.
The man, in his 40s, said he had just returned from dropping his children at school and was having a shower when his car was stolen from the driveway.
“I opened the door and the car was gone,” he said.
“I wouldn’t expect that they would do it first thing in the morning. I didn’t hear a thing.”
— with Meagan Dillon, Doug Robertson and Elizabeth Henson