Good Samaritan who intervened assault faces break, enter charges
A good Samaritan who was once lauded for stopping a serious assault has been charged with a list of break and enter offences across the eastern suburbs.
Southern Courier
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A good Samaritan turned accused offender has been released from custody because of his ill health after being charged with a spate of break and enter offences across the eastern suburbs.
Laurence Dapra, 50, from Coogee, was praised for intervening in an ugly assault at Randwick in 2012 after helping stop a violent robbery from escalating into a stabbing.
However, he is currently facing four alleged break and enter offences at different locations across the eastern suburbs including at a retirement village in Randwick and a cafe in Bondi Junction in April.
In relation to the latter charge, he is accused of taking off with a $300 tablet, speakers and numerous cans of soft drink.
The four charges include aggravated break and enter, aggravated enter dwelling in company with intent to steal, and two counts of break, enter and steal.
He has also been charged with two counts of resist officer in execution of duty, relating to an incident in April, and fail to appear in court in accordance with bail conditions.
He was in custody when he appeared via audiovisual link at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday to apply for bail.
His defence told the court Mr Dapra was very ill and would receive better treatment in the community — with strict bail conditions — rather than in custody.
He said he was suffering from kidney problems and obesity and required injections. He also said he suffered from mental health issues.
His defence argued that none of the charges related to any threats of violence and strict bail conditions would prevent him from being a risk to the community.
The prosecutor pointed out that he had breached his bail in the past.
Magistrate Michael Crompton granted Mr Dapra bail with several conditions including he report to Randwick Police Station each Monday, observe a curfew, not associate with a co-accused, and to take his injections without fail.
The court was told it was Mr Dapra’s first time in custody.
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