A roundup of April and May’s suspect crimes and courts in south east Melbourne
From a “hardly sophisticated” booze and drug fuelled home invasion, to an unlicensed getaway driver, check out our wrap of south east court hearings and suspected crimes.
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From a “hardly sophisticated” booze and drug fuelled home invasion, to an unlicensed getaway driver, here are some of the events that wound up in the south east courts over the past three months.
Drunk Drivers Charges:
On Anzac Day, one man had a major need for speed, allegedly seen flying down EastLink well above both the speed and blood alcohol limit.
The Sandhurst man, 24, belted past police allegedly going 147km/h in a 2014 Hyundai IX 35.
After a short distance pursuit, police caught up with the man at Bangholme.
Police allege the man then blew .207 on a breath test.
Police impounded the man’s car, at a cost of $1006, for 30 days, and immediately suspended his license.
Accused Speed Racers:
In May, two men were slapped with a string of charges after allegedly trying to lose police in a high speed chase through Melbourne’s southeast.
Driving through Narre Warren in a Holden Caprice with allegedly false number plates, officers began their hour long pursuit of the duo.
After allegedly alluding police, the pair were tracked by the Air Wing down the Princes Highway in the early hours of the morning.
Speeding through Narre Warren, Cranbourne and Tooradin, the pair allegedly clocked in 150km/h in a 100km/h zone.
The chase came to an end on Drouin-Korumburra Rd in Athlone an hour later, where police arrested a 21-year-old Pakenham man and a 31-year-old Long Gully man.
Police allege the 21-year-old was driving, and he was subsequently charged with driving dangerously while being pursued, driving at a dangerous speed, two counts of failure to stop, driving while disqualified, driving an unregistered vehicle, possession of a controlled weapon and being equipped to steal.
The 31-year-old passenger has also been charged with theft and discharging a missile.
Drug Fuelled Home Invasion:
In March, the Melbourne’s County Court heard that two met broke into a family home in Carrum Downs, after travelling to the property in an uber.
Daniel Heaven, 32 and Patrick Iaulualo, 28 pleaded guilty to home invasion and common assault charges in the County Court over the October 2020 incident, referred to as “hardly sophisticated” by Judge Paul Lacava.
Powered up with drugs and alcohol, Heaven and Iaulualo forcefully entered the property, Heaven wearing a face covering and Iaulualo armed with a butane gas torch.
The pair left their family of victims traumatised, one victim impact statement reading that they “still wake at every noise.”
It was not revealed why the men chose that particular house.
Both men pleaded guilty to home invasion and common assault charges.
Iaulualo was later jailed for four-and-a-half years including a three-year non-parole period.
Heaven was jailed for up to four years and three months.
Getaway Driver Charges:
In April, Melbourne’s Supreme Court heard that Ashley Powell, 25, had allegedly helped his mate evade police, all while driving with his infant son on his lap.
Police claim that acting as a getaway driver, Powell picked up friend, Jason Ruscoe, 30, after Ruscoe hit and killed beloved father of four, Timmy Rakei in Carrum Downs.
Ruscoe told Powell that he had “hit a tree” on the morning following the incident in November 2021.
Powell and Ruscoe allegedly got away in a black Hyundai with cloned plates, driving in the wrong direction, nearly missing police vehicles and officers, and subsequently evading arrest.
Police were able to recover some of the clothing from the blaze, which was seen on both Powell and Ruscoe in CCTV footage taken of them earlier in the day.
Powell was released into the supervision of his grandfather, Daniel Powell, 71, under strict bail conditions.
“I will support him as much as I can,” Mr Powell said.
“I don’t want him to go near the riffraff that he’s previously been involved with.”
A strict curfew and a ban on travelling outside Victoria are among the extensive list of conditions of the bail conditions.
Justice Lex Lasry told Powell to take the conditions seriously, and put his grandfather into consideration.
“He’s gone out on a limb for you and is taking some responsibility for you,” Justice Lasry said.
“The least you can do is to repay what he’s doing for you by complying with these orders.
gemma.scerri@news.com.au
