Man, 41, charged over alleged road rage incident in North Ryde
An enraged driver who allegedly punched and attacked a fellow motorist with a box cutter in an “unprovoked” violent road rage attack in Sydney has been granted bail.
NSW
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A driver has been granted bail after allegedly attacking and threatening another driver with a box cutter in a serious road rage attack in North Ryde on Friday.
Oktay Demir, 41, appeared via video link from Amber Laurel Correctional centre in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and being armed with the intent to commit an offence.
Police will allege in court Demir, driving a white Hino truck, indicated to a 34-year-old male driver in a white Ford Ranger to pull over at Caltex on Epping and Wicks Road at 10am.
Police prosecutor Rhonda Moort told the court Demir allegedly walked over to the victim and began punching him several times, before walking back to his car to get a box cutter.
“When he got a knife from his car, he shouted the words: ‘I will kill you’,” Ms Moort said.
“It was an unprovoked offence, which started out as a road rage.”
The 34-year-old victim received minor injuries.
Ms Moort opposed bail. She said he was an “unacceptable risk” to the community.
Auburn resident Demir, who had recently moved to Sydney from Turkey and had limited English, told the court he was struggling to understand his lawyer and the magistrate.
Magistrate Peter Miszalski said there was CCTV of the attack.
“I’m accepting the prosecution case is strong. This sort of behaviour is outrageous,” Mr Miszalski said.
“I’m not sure what happened prior to the attack or whether there had been a collision but it’s not in the facts.
“It’s a box cutter, it’s not a machete, but it can still involve serious injuries and cause death if it hit a vein or nerve.”
Demir’s lawyer Albert Chen told the court his client’s family would suffer “catastrophic” financial loss if he was to be jailed.
“He handed himself in to the police station straight after he went home and spoke with his wife,” Mr Chen said.
“He has three kids and his wife doesn’t work.”
Demir’s bail was approved with strict bail conditions including that he would need to report to Burwood Police Station each day.
He is due to appear in court on September 8.