Daniel Batsanes guilty in County Court over terrifying machete attack that almost severed a man’s arm
A notorious teen behind a shocking attack at Fountain Gate that almost severed a man’s arm, says his victim “shouldn’t have been a hero”.
South East
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A teen terror who almost severed a shopper’s arm with a machete at Westfield Fountain Gate forcing the centre into a partial lockdown later attempted to evade arrest during a wild police chase.
Daniel Batsanes, 19, pleaded guilty in the County Court on August 8 to multiple offences including intentionally causing serious injury.
The court heard Batsanes attacked a shopper in the Westfield Fountain Gate car park on October 19 last year.
Batsanes, formerly of Hallam, pulled out a machete and hacked a 52-year-old man’s arm.
Batsanes had parked a stolen Ford XR-6 ute next to the man’s Ford Falcon ute, in an attempt to steal the spare tire from the ute tray.
The victim spotted Batsanes and attempted to stop him from driving away shortly after 9am.
Batsanes then struck the man with the 50cm machete which caused a “deep laceration that went through to bone”.
Batsanes then fled the scene in the stolen XR-6, the court was told.
The 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 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.
Cops spotted Batsanes in a suspected stolen Audi A5 before lighting him up in Dandenong on December 4 last year.
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.
Police filmed Batsanes during his escapade until he dumped the Audi at Sandown Park station.
Batsanes fled on foot but was soon nabbed with a knife and drugs.
Batsanes said he stabbed the 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 …”
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 presented a “high danger to the community”, after he carjacked and assaulted a 70-year-old woman at Springvale station.
On Thursday, Judge Marcus Dempsey agreed, saying he would not be considering a combination sentence.
“He has a habit of being violent then apologising afterwards,” Justice Dempsey said.
“The answers in his interview suggest it was the victim’s fault, that he should have just let him steal from his car.”
“This is spectacularly violent behaviour.”
Justice Dempsey ordered the notorious teen be assessed for the youth justice program.
Batsanes, who is currently held in custody at Ravenhall Correctional, will be return to court on October 18 for further plea.
