Philip John Rollond, accused of stealing $1.5 million worth of equipment over a decade, misses court after ‘witnessing a murder’

A MAN accused of stealing $1.5 million worth of farming and car-racing equipment had a startling reason for missing his court date.

The Dack Attack Motorsports trailer stolen from Burra. Picture: SA Police

• Distinctive motorsport trailer stolen from Mid North parking bay
• $1.5 million in ‘stolen’ trailers, equipment found in Adelaide Hills

Editor’s note: After being found guilty in the District Court, Mr Rolland successfully appealed to the Full Court of the Supreme Court in November 2020. He was acquitted of one charge and a retrial was ordered for the remainder. Prosecutors subsequently dropped all remaining charges. Read the full story here.

A MAN accused of stealing $1.5 million worth of farming and car-racing equipment over 10 years missed his court date because he witnessed an alleged murder, his lawyer says.

On Thursday, counsel for Philip John Rollond asked the Adelaide Magistrates Court to excuse their client’s non-attendance, and not issue a warrant for his arrest.

Stephen Ey, for Rollond, conceded the allegations against his client were serious — but said the reasons for his absence were equally grave.

“He’s not here, and he’s not travelling too well at the moment,” he said.

“His son suffered a serious accident in February and, more recently, he has witnessed a murder.

“But I don’t want to say too much about that, because there’s issues arising about that.”

The Advertiser understands the death Mr Rollond allegedly witnessed was the fatal stabbing of Kevin Skeyhill in Tungkillo last week, over which Darren Lorke has been charged.

Rollond, 52, of Tungkillo, has yet to plead to 22 counts of dishonestly taking property without the owner’s consent, and five counts of unlawful possession.

Another of the stolen racing car trailer at Burra.

Court documents allege the offences occurred between July 29, 2006 and May 10 last year.

At the time of Rollond’s arrest, police alleged he had stolen $1.5 million worth of machinery and equipment from a variety of locations around SA and Queensland.

Officers allegedly recovered $960,000 worth of the equipment before attending Rollond’s property in Match 2016, where they seized a further eight semi-trailers worth $575,000.

The haul included a 13.5m-long purpose-built car racing transport semi-trailer — owned by Dack Attack Motorsports — which was stolen from Burra in August 2015.

On Thursday, Mr Ey declined to discuss which alleged murder Rollond had witnessed.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, asked the court to adjourn the case for six weeks for discussions.

Mr Ey agreed that was the proper course.

“We’re in the process of going backwards and forwards to sort out a possible plea,” he said.

The state’s chief magistrate, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal, said she would excuse Rollond’s non-attendance and did not issue a warrant for his arrest.

She remanded him on continuing bail to face court again in November, when he will be expected to enter pleas to the charges.

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