Alleged Pam the Bird vandal Jack Gibson-Burrell to provide photos of ‘freckles’ to police
Four freckles could be the feather in the cap of the police case against the man allegedly behind the “Pam the Bird” tag plastered on Melbourne landmarks, a court has heard.
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Four freckles could bring down alleged Pam the Bird vandal as police seek to use the distinctive birthmarks as evidence against the accused tagger, a court has heard.
Facing Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Jack Gibson-Burrell, 21, did not oppose a move by police to photograph distinctive freckles on his body.
Mr Gibson-Burrell was charged with causing more than $200,000 in damages over more than two dozen high-profile graffiti incidents depicting the cartoon bird on trains, buildings and landmarks across Melbourne including the heritage-listed Flinders Street station clock, the “Cheese Stick” above CityLink and Novotel at South Wharf.
He is further charged over a ram-raid on a Nando’s restaurant, an assault against a retail worker, and a stabbing of an associate in West Footscray.
Mr Gibson-Burrell denied he was behind Pam the Bird and had indicated he would fight the charges, arguing police cannot prove it was him.
The court heard police sought to photograph four of Mr Gibson-Burrell’s freckles to compare against CCTV footage as part of their case against the alleged bird man.
Police already have photos taken during his arrest depicting his freckles, the court heard, but they were inadmissible at a jury trial because depiction of an accused in custody could be prejudicial, Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz said.
The defence had initially opposed the move, but in what Ms Mykytowycz said was a “surprising” development, Mr Gibson-Burrell had consented to police photographing his freckles as evidence.
The court heard police had also sought an extension of time to serve a brief evidence on the defence containing a “digital recording”.
Senior Constable Scott Nicholls previously told the court Mr Gibson-Burrell had allegedly been linked by police as the creator of the fowl through phone records, CCTV, covert surveillance and posts to the Instagram page Good Bird Art.
Victoria Police were also working with the FBI to retrieve evidence from Instagram US parent company Meta that they allege would prove Mr Gibson-Burrell ran the profile documenting the graffiti.
The case was adjourned to May 8 as it progresses towards a committal in June.
Mr Gibson-Burrell remains on bail after he was released from custody in February to live with his grandmother in Geelong.
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