Massimo Lombardo: Plumber allegedly involved in Canterbury IED explosion released on bail
For the first time details of an apprentice plumber’s alleged involvement in causing a dangerous explosion that left a woman with severe burns can be revealed. The 18-year-old and his mates are potentially facing 25 years in prison if found guilty.
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An apprentice plumber who is alleged to have driven a gang of youths who detonated an IED outside a woman’s home has received bail after his parents put up a $100,000 surety.
A group of nine are before the courts for their alleged connection to the detonation of the IED (Improved Explosive Device) crudely made of sparklers, aerosol cans and thumb tacks.
The small bomb exploded at a home in Canterbury on June 8 and left Denise Lavell with serious burns to her body.
Massimo Lombardo, 18, from Croydon Park, has been charged with “causing an explosive to explode with the intent to cause harm to a person” which carries a maximum 25 years in jail.
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Lombardo kept his head low and held his hands together as he faced the Supreme Court on Monday for his bail hearing.
The Crown argued that Lombardo allegedly played a “very serious role” and had “criminal associations.”
The court heard Lombardo allegedly drove his co-accused to Coles to buy materials to make the IED and then back to the Canterbury home where it was allegedly placed.
“He was a full participant (...) he was the driver of one of the cars,” he told the court.
Yet his defence barrister Richard Pontello SC argued that Lombardo was merely a “reluctant participant” pointing to dialogue saying “he didn’t know why he was there” in police facts.
“Even though he didn’t have skin in the game he was willing to participate,” the crown prosecutor said.
The crown further alleged Lombardo attempted to destroy evidence in the car, yet Mr Pontello said Lombardo had only talked to his father about “getting it cleaned.”
Mr Pontello argued Lombardo did not have any criminal associations nor criminal history and that he would spend about a year in custody before his trial if bail was refused.
The court heard Lombardo was also before the courts for punching a food delivery worker at a party in July.
Lombardo has pleaded guilty to one count of common assault and will be sentenced in Burwood Local Court later this month.
“He is erratic and violent,” the crown prosecutor said.
Taking into account his young age and likely duration in custody while awaiting trial, Justice Robertson Wright granted him bail and said that while the crown’s case did have some “substantial strength” the dialogue tendered by two co-accused “appeared to be hearsay.”
His strict bail conditions include a curfew from 6.30pm to 5.30am, daily reporting and not leaving the home unless in the company of his parents.
Lombardo will appear before Burwood Local Court on Thursday.
All other co-accused are still before the courts.