Batemans Bay: Jack McFarlane accused of burnout in front of Highway Patrol police officer
A man has denied ripping a burnout in front of a Highway Patrol officer near Batemans Bay, telling the court there was not enough evidence despite the incident being filmed.
The South Coast News
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A man accused of performing a burnout on a dirt road near Batemans Bay has denied the allegation, telling the court there was not enough evidence despite the incident being filmed.
Jack McFarlane, 21, from Gordon in the ACT, faced Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday where he pleaded not guilty to driving a vehicle to undergo loss of traction.
The court heard McFarlane had allegedly done a burnout with his partner in the car on a public dirt road while leaving a rural property outside Batemans Bay.
The highway patrol officer who charged and fined McFarlane had been sitting outside the property, near the Princes Hwy, when he saw McFarlane allegedly do the burnout earlier this year.
However McFarlane, who was self represented, told Magistrate Doug Dick the police officer who charged him did not have enough evidence to prove he had done a burnout.
Mr Dick said there was footage of the alleged offence, including dashcam footage from McFarlane’s car and bodycam footage from the police officer.
McFarlane told the court he had seen the footage but said it was “not enough evidence”.
“So you have seen this footage and you’re saying it still doesn’t show you doing a burnout?” Mr Dick said.
“No it doesn’t, nor does the [police] bodycam footage,” McFarlane replied. “It’s false evidence.”
Mr Dick heard McFarlane’s partner had not yet submitted evidence and recommended she do so, noting it would be a “good idea”.
A June 1 hearing date was set for McFarlane at the same court, where his partner and the police officer who charged him will be in attendance to give further evidence.