Christopher Dallacqua: Accused Clemton Park armed robber granted bail
The alleged armed robber and getaway driver behind a $300,000 armed guard stick-up was faced with an extended stint behind bars before his trial could begin. That was until his mum came through.
The Express
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Alleged armed robber Christopher Dallacqua — one of two masked men accused of robbing two transit guards while wielding a military style gun in Clemton Park two years ago — has been granted bail on the condition his mother posts $2 million surety if he breaches rules.
Dallacqua has pleaded not guilty to a brazen heist at Clemton Park Shopping Village on April 5, 2018, when he was the alleged getaway driver after two masked men threatened two guards with semiautomatic weapons near the busy shopping centre on Mackinder St before stealing $299,000 in cash bags and fleeing at 11am.
The father — who has a crown tattoo under his left eye and ginger hair — was arrested in November 2018 and charged with robbery while armed with dangerous weapon.
In February, the 36-year-old, who then legally representing himself during an unsuccessful bail application hearing, told the NSW Supreme Court that none of the witnesses reported a driver with a crown tattoo under his left eye and two large neck tattoos, but instead identified a Middle Eastern looking man with black hair and stubble.
“I don’t look Middle Eastern at all … (and they) would have definitely seen the tattoos if I was the driver,’’ he told the court.
Dallacqua is also accused of buying the getaway car, a silver Volkswagen Golf, the night before the heist but pressuring an intellectually disabled man to list the car under his name on the sale papers in an effort to avoid police.
At Parramatta District Court on Thursday, Dallacqua appeared via video link and the court heard the men involved in the car exchange refused to provide witness statements to the court.
Body armour vests allegedly worn during the incident were uncovered at the co-accused father’s house but were cleaned and therefore no DNA or forensic evidence could be found on the items.
The court heard the accused deposited $14,000 after April but he had “access to big sums of money before’’ the incident but there was no evidence to support Dallacqua’s claim.
The matters were raised again at the most recent hearing at Parramatta District Court over the past week, when Dallacqua’s trial was scheduled to begin.
The defence told the court Dallacqua’s mobile phone records show he was in Shanes Park at the time of the heist, almost 60km away from Clemton Park.
It also told the court claims he was driving erratically hours after the incident were doubtful because he would not want to draw attention to police.
However, Judge Stephen Hanley told the court he was forced to delay the trial over the “unprecedented’’ COVID-19 pandemic forcing courts to reach capacity.
Justice Hanley told the court from his experience hardly any accused broke bail conditions ahead of trials.
He acknowledged the Crown’s submission about Dallacqua’s criminal history which included a sentence that led him to serve behind bars, but was satisfied the “substantial’’ bail conditions would mitigate those concerns.
Along with his mother, Dallacqua’s partner supported him in court and was visibly relieved when bail was granted.
Bail conditions stipulate Dallacqua must live at Coonabarabran, almost 500km northwest of Sydney, and his mother must forfeit $2 million from the estate if bail is breached.
He will be required to report daily to the police station in the town, not leave NSW and can only travel to Sydney for legal or medical appointments.
Dallacqua’s co-accused has not applied for bail.
The matter will readjourn at Sydney District Court on April 12.