Alleged Comanchero bikie associate Mark Horne escapes court penalty despite three months on the run
Mark Horne, 32, spent three months on the run as one of NSW’s most wanted before he was caught hiding in a yacht in Darwin in January. He’s avoided punishment for disappearing.
NSW
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An alleged Comanchero bikie associate, who was one of the state’s most wanted men when he disappeared ahead of his trial last year, has avoided any punishment for breaching a court order by going on the run.
Mark Horne, 32, was found guilty of an assault in the NSW Local Court in March 2022 and placed on a 12-month community corrections order (CCO), the conditions of which required he “not commit any offence” and “appear before the Court if called upon to do so at any time”.
At the time of that sentencing, Horne was out on strict bail awaiting trial on three charges over his alleged role in the shooting of truck driver Leith Carstairs, and theft of $550,000, in the Blue Mountains in 2020.
Horne went on the run last October, but after being returned to custody in January he not only had his bail revoked but was also charged with a breach of his CCO.
In facing the Downing Centre Local Court last week over that alleged breach, Magistrate Greg Grogin found a breach had occurred but took “no (further) action”.
When asked about the court’s decision by The Daily Telegraph, Attorney-General Mark Speakman said in a statement he would now endeavour to “understand the reasons”.
“In relation to the CCO matter in the Local Court on March 13, 2023 I have requested a transcript to understand the reasons for the magistrate’s decision,” Mr Speakman said.
“Given the accused is currently in custody (as his bail was revoked) awaiting trial in the District Court it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further.”
Mr Speakman would have to find an error of law before being able to appeal the decision, should he believe it necessary to do so.
Horne’s high-profile solicitor Abdul Saddik told The Daily Telegraph he could not comment due to Horne’s other matters still before court.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet weighed in on the sentencing on 2GB, telling Ben Fordman that it was a soft call and its disappointing incidents like this are still occurring in NSW.
“Well Ben it is soft as a government I’m not across the specific details that relate to that case but as a government we put in the laws and my expectation is that we have strong laws in place,” Perrottet told 2GB
“We have measures in place when these situations occur and they need to be followed by magistrates and I expect people have the book thrown at them.
“We need to make sure that every community across NSW is safe with incidents like this occurring it’s incredibly disappointing and it’s soft, I agree with you.”
Horne allegedly cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet about 6.30am on Friday, October 21 after getting in an Uber from Coorabin Place in Riverwood.
He then allegedly chartered a flight from Bankstown Airport to a remote part of Australia.
Where he spent the next three months is unknown.
Senior police sources said leads on Horne’s whereabouts had all but dried up before NT Police carrying out routine checks at Cullen Bay Marina in Darwin found him hiding in the hull of a yacht.
Horne was allegedly in possession of false documents and a large sum of cash when he was found.
Horne remains in custody and is next due before the NSW District Court on April 14.
Originally published as Alleged Comanchero bikie associate Mark Horne escapes court penalty despite three months on the run
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