Accused teen Daniel Batsanes charged with stabbing Westfield Fountain Gate shopper
An accused machete-wielding teen had Fountain Gate in lockdown after he allegedly almost sliced off a shopper’s arm.
South East
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A suspected teen terror has appeared in court after he allegedly almost severed a shopper’s arm with a machete, putting Westfield Fountain Gate in partial lockdown.
Daniel Batsanes, 19, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with multiple offences including intentionally cause serious injury.
The court heard Batsanes allegedly attacked a shopper in the Westfield Fountain Gate car park on October 19 last year.
Batsanes, formerly of Hallam, allegedly pulled out a machete and hacked up a 52-year-old man’s arm.
It’s alleged Batsanes parked a suspected stolen Ford XR-6 ute next to the man’s car in an attempt to commit a brazen theft.
The alleged victim spotted Batsanes and attempted to stop him from driving away shortly after 9am.
Batsanes then allegedly struck the man with the machete which caused a “deep laceration that went through to bone”.
Batsanes allegedly then fled the scene in the suspected stolen XR-6, the court was told.
The alleged victim, who sustained “serious injuries”, sought help from Fountain Gate security.
Paramedics treated the man at the scene before he was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.
The alleged victim is facing a “substantial and protracted recovery”, the court was told.
Investigators set up multiple crime scenes and placed the bustling shopping centre into partial lockdown.
Specialist police then launched investigation ‘SCACRU GLAZED 2023’ to snare Batsanes.
Cops allegedly spotted Batsanes in a suspected stolen Audi A5 before lighting him up in Dandenong on December 4 last year.
It’s alleged Batsanes “almost immediately” sped off onto the wrong side of the Princes Hwy and collided with a Toyota HiLux.
Batsanes sped away from the crash on the wrong side of the road and into oncoming traffic while “narrowly missing” a white hatchback, it was alleged.
Police filmed Batsanes during his alleged escapade until he dumped the Audi at Sandown Park station.
Batsanes fled on foot but was soon allegedly nabbed with a knife and drugs.
Batsanes said he stabbed the alleged Fountain Gate victim because “some c--t tried to be a hero”.
“I went a bit too far …,” Batsanes told police, the court heard.
“I just need money … we were trying to take something from the person’s car … he’s obviously tried to intervene, whatever’s happened, happened, next thing you know I’ve pulled out a knife, and f--k …
“I don’t remember much except looking back and seeing his arm all f--cked up …
“Anyone that f--kin wants to jump in the way and try to be a hero is going to get f--cked, is going to get f--ckin hurt …
“I didn’t know my own strength … it turned out worse than I thought …”
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Batsanes, who was on bail at the time, also allegedly committed various criminal acts at Endeavour Hills, Mulgrave and Noble Park between October 27 and November 29.
Casey detective Senior Constable Jarryd Rutherford told the court, during a prior bail application, Batsanes has racked up 600 charges including aggravated carjacking and escaping custody.
Detective Rutherford alleged the teen carjacked a 70-year-old woman while she sat in her parked car at Springvale station
Batsanes “forcefully” dragged the woman out of her car and punched her face, head and stomach numerous times before stealing the car, Detective Rutherford told the court.
The court heard Batsanes, who has allegedly failed to answer bail on multiple occasions, also escaped custody by threatening to stab a corrections officer with a homemade “shiv”.
Detective Rutherford said Batsanes presented a “high danger to the community”.
“ (Batsanes) is an unacceptable risk to the safety of any person as he has shown his propensity for violence …,” Detective Rutherford said.
“ (Batsanes) has used extreme violence and struck the victim with a machete who was backing away and not expecting to be physically assaulted …”
Batsanes, who appeared via videolink from Ravenhall Correctional for a summary jurisdiction application, will front court again on Monday.
