Luke Mamaj pleads guilty in Geelong Magistrates Court to dangerous driving
A man who tried to clamber out the window of a moving car after begging for help during a drug-induced psychosis had to be arrested with the help of a good Samaritan, a court has heard.
A man who tried to clamber out of the window of a moving car after begging for help during a drug-induced psychosis had to be arrested with the help of a good Samaritan, a court has heard.
Luke Mamaj, 25, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court via videolink from custody on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to a number of charges including dangerous driving.
Four other charges were withdrawn with his plea.
Police prosecutor senior constable Cody Ogston told the court that at 8.25pm on January 3 this year, police began receiving calls about a vehicle being driven erratically in Norlane, reportedly on the wrong side of the road.
At 8.40pm, police in a vehicle at the intersection of Princes Hwy and North Shore Rd spotted Mamaj travelling north on the Princes Hwy.
His car caught the officers’ attention as the front lights were constantly flashing, Sen-Constable Ogston said.
Mamaj pulled up alongside the police car and appeared to be in a “drug-induced psychosis”, the court heard, shouting “help me, help me,” out the passenger side window.
Mamaj “attempted to climb out” of the passenger window while the car was in motion.
Mamaj complied with police directions to stop the car and get out, however when officers went to arrest him he “immediately violently resisted” the court heard, throwing the police off and onto the ground.
Mamaj leapt on top of one of the officers, who was on the ground in a “vulnerable position”, and aggressively grabbed at police vests.
A witness stopped his vehicle and got out to assist police; after a “struggle” Mamaj was arrested “with the help of the good Samaritan”
Mamaj had two .22 calibre bullets on him, and another was found in the passenger side footwell of the car.
Checks revealed he had been disqualified from driving in 2017, with the order his licenced wasn’t to be replaced except by a magistrate.
In a separate incident, an air rifle, extendible baton belonging to Mamaj were found by police, after Mamaj’s partner was involved in a collision with a Ford Everest.
His lawyer, Matilda Jones, asked the court for a combined sentence of prison followed by a community corrections order (CCO).
Ms Jones tendered a number of documents, including a reference from Mamaj’s partner, who was in court to support him and a psychological report.
The court heard Mamaj had a limited history in the Magistrates Court, and some childhood disadvantage.
The court heard the stresses of losing his job and finding out he may be a father contributed to the offending.
Mamaj had re-engaged with old associates and his drug-taking had escalated, Ms Jones said.
“Has he severed himself from those associations? Because he certainly needs to,” Mr Holzer said.
Ms Jones told the court Mamaj had employment available to him in roof tiling and labouring upon release, and a CCO would assist his rehabilitation.
Mr Holzer said he was “supportive” of that approach and ordered Mamaj be assessed for CCO suitability.
Mr Holzer disqualified Mamaj from driving for 15 months.
Mamaj will face court again on November 26.
Originally published as Luke Mamaj pleads guilty in Geelong Magistrates Court to dangerous driving
