Zane Merik Baggio approached vehicles at night armed with knife, climbed on roof of Robert Towns motel
The identity of a Mount Louisa man who terrorised a motorist on Bayswater Rd and caused more than $40k in damages at a CBD hotel can be revealed.
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The identity of the knife-wielding man who terrorised a motorist on Bayswater Rd and caused over $41,000 in damages at a CBD hotel can be revealed.
Zane Merik Baggio, 30, appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court via videolink from prison on Thursday, July 24.
He was charged with going armed to cause fear during a hair raising confrontation in Mount Louisa at 9.30pm, on July 25 last year.
Police prosecutor Tasman Murphy said on that night an unknown object was thrown at a passing vehicle causing the driver to pull over.
“The defendant (Baggio) approached on a bicycle holding a knife and began tapping on the windows yelling in a threatening manner,” Mr Murphy said.
“That would’ve caused alarm to that member of the public.”
According to police, Baggio was on parole at the time, and was served a notice to attend a police station, but he failed to do so, and acquired a second charge of contravening a direction from a police officer.
Baggio spent several months at large before the cops were called on him again in November 2024, this time because he was walkingon the roof of the Robert Towns motel with a metal pole at 4.20am, the court heard.
“While on the roof the defendant has smashed approximately 18 solar panels, police were notified by residents who could hear smashing sounds and someone walking around on the roof,” Mr Murphy said.
“He was observed three stories high... a solar panel was thrown off the roof... he was told to get off but he continued to cause damage.”
With the help of the fire department, police arrested Baggio on the roof for trespassing, wilful damage and ‘unregulated high-risk activities’, the court heard.
Baggio was returned to prison to serve out his parole and has remained inside on remand for 251 days in total.
Baggio’s lawyer Murray Bower said his client was “profoundly deaf” and had been since birth.
“He instructs he’s been in the same cell, he’s only allowed out for two and a half hours, he’s effectively in isolation, he’s finding it incredibly stressful and a very bad situation,” Mr Bower said.
“He certainly faced a lack of support when he got out last time... from what I understand Probation and Parole may be able to assist Mr Baggio with liaising with their NDIS person.”
The court heard Baggio was unable to read or write well, to the extent he couldn’t fill out his own parole application sheet, and was not on the NDIS himself.
Baggio was assisted by a court-issued AUSLAN interpreter during the sentencing.
Magistrate Steven Mosch acknowledged the extra hardship Baggio was experiencing in prison as someone who can only communicate through AUSLAN, but questioned why Baggio committed the crimes when the man’s six-page criminal history showed he’d been in and out of prison for several years and would’ve been aware how hard it was inside.
This included being sentenced in 2020 for entry of dwelling with intent, 2019 for wilful damage, 2016 for common assault, and 2021 for domestic violence offending.
There was some concern in court over the repair bill the Robert Towns motel had provided, which showed the business was quoted $41,962 to replace 82 solar panels - not just 18.
According to police, the solar system was integrated and the damage to 18 panels meant all needed to be replaced.
Mr Bower said Baggio could not remember what damage he caused, but he wished to accept the $41,962 quote so he could be sentenced quicker.
Baggio pleaded guilty to all five charges against him and was sentenced to 15 monthsjail and given an immediate parole eligibility date.
It will be up to the parole board to grant him an early release.
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Originally published as Zane Merik Baggio approached vehicles at night armed with knife, climbed on roof of Robert Towns motel
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