Christopher Michael: Disguised gun, knife found in taxi in Preston
A man was allegedly caught in Preston armed with a gun and a knife and wearing a disguise days before he allegedly stole two cars worth almost $250,000. And there are a few reasons why police fear him being on the streets.
North West
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A man was allegedly found armed with a gun and a knife and wearing a disguise days before he allegedly stole two cars valued at almost $250,000.
Christopher Michael was refused bail at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, October 29, with a magistrate deeming him too greater risk to the public’s safety and welfare.
Michael, who the cout heard has previously been jailed for crimes including kidnapping and aggravated burglary, was stopped by police when he and a woman were in a taxi in Preston about 1.50am on September 4 — after the COVID-19 lockdown curfew.
The taxi driver allegedly told police the pair panicked when police stopped the car, throwing things on the car floor.
In the back seat where Michael and the woman had been sitting police allegedly found a loaded gun disguised as a torch, a large kitchen knife, screwdriver, black leather gloves and an iPhone.
The woman allegedly had two torches, another screwdriver and items that had been stolen from a car earlier that night in her handbag.
Michael allegedly gave police a fake name and was wearing thick prescription glasses which he didn’t need.
It was only later that police discovered that what they seemed like a torch was actually a fully operable firearm, loaded with ammunition.
Michael had previously been declared a prohibited person for possessing firearms, the court heard.
Michael was allegedly then one of two men who stole a $200,000 Mercedes 4WD from a driveway after 10.30am on September 13.
After the owner parked the car in her driveway and went inside her home, two males were allegedly caught on CCTV parking nearby, with one entering the house through the unlocked door and stealing the woman’s jacket hanging in the hallway.
A minute later the other man allegedly used a car key left inside the jacket to drive the Mercedes away.
About an hour later Michael was allegedly caught on CCTV driving the car at Northland Shopping Centre.
He allegedly stole a $45,000 Volkswagen from Collingwood the next day, and was seen driving it suspiciously and looking into parked vehicles on September 15.
Lawyer Cameron Baker proposed Michael be bailed to residential rehabilitation for drug users and family violence perpetrators.
He submitted that his client was an Indigenous person with impaired intellectual functioning and family support who was at risk of spending too long in custody due to delays caused by COVID-19.
But Magistrate Denise Livingstone ruled there were not exceptional circumstances to warrant Michael’s release, noting he was also “high risk” of endangering the safety and welfare of any person, offending on bail and not reappearing before court.
Ms Livingstone said the firearm being disguised made it more dangerous in many ways.
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