Aaron Buyink: Killarney Heights biker refused bail on charges of speeding up to 299km/h in police pursuit
A biker who allegedly posted and boasted on social media about hitting 299km/h during a police pursuit has made a bold bid for bail in a Sydney Local Court.
Manly
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A northern beaches motorcyclist who allegedly posted and boasted on social media about hitting 299km/h during a police pursuit has been refused bail.
Aaron Buyink, 33, also allegedly put some of the chase footage, filmed by a helmet-mounted camera, up on YouTube, Manly Local Court heard on Wednesday.
Buyink, a building site supervisor from Killarney Heights, was also accused of brazenly and deliberately taunting Highway Patrol cops into chasing him twice within 15 minute in the Illawarra region in February.
Police will allege he had a sign on his Yamaha R1 motorcycle’s rear number plate reading “Catch me if U can!” and waved at pursuing officers.
The court heard that police chasing him through peak hour traffic along the Princes Motorway at Kanahooka, near Dapto around 5.41pm on February 26, quickly halted the pursuit when Buyink allegedly reached excessively high speeds.
Soon after, he was again chased by police on the motorway at Oak Flats and, again, the pursuit was halted quickly.
Buyink has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges including two counts of police pursuit and one count each of driving recklessly/furiously or at speed manner dangerous, exceeding speed by more than 45km/h and making false representation resulting in a police investigation.
He has also pleaded not guilty to being the owner of a motor vehicle, not disclosing the identity of the rider, and possessing one gram of cocaine.
Buyink was arrested at his Killarney Heights home on June 12.
The court heard that evidence alleging Buyink had uploaded the footage to YouTube had been found along with number plates and clothing.
His first attempt at being released on bail, on June 13, failed.
Buyink’s solicitor James McLoughlin made a second bail application on Wednesday, telling the court that a new psychiatric report into his client’s mental health had been prepared.
Mr McLoughlin said evidence that Buyink was the rider of the motorcycles was circumstantial.
“Police are relying on a YouTube clip. There is no evidence that it is unaltered,” he said.
The police prosecutor opposed bail, telling Magistrate Daniel Reiss that Buyink allegedly reached speeds close to 300km/h in peak hour traffic.
“The accused had a complete disregard for the safety of other road users during the offending,” the prosecutor said.
Magistrate Reiss refused the bail application. He said there was an allegation that the rider was seeking out police and taunting them into pursuits.
“It was brazen, blatant and extremely dangerous,” he said.
“The pursuits, in part, were undertaken to be put on YouTube.”
Buyink will be back in court on July 30.
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