Frankston attack: Bail for man accused of assault
SHOCKING footage of an unprovoked and brutal Frankston street attack, and the alleged attacker’s release on bail, has sparked outrage today, with the Premier and Victoria’s former chief magistrate the latest to weigh in.
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SHOCKING footage of an unprovoked and brutal Frankston street attack, and the alleged attacker’s release on bail, has sparked outrage today.
Ryan Wells, 32, of Frankston South, faced court yesterday charged with intentionally and recklessly causing injury, assault and affray after the alleged attack on a 43-year-old Frankston North man on Thursday night.
JEFF KENNETT: BAIL DECISION A DISGRACE
CHAOS FROM ONE NIGHT IN FRANKSTON EMERGENCY
Premier Daniel Andrews has labelled the attack “sickening”.
“Anybody’s who’s seen the CCTV footage could only be sickened by it,” Mr Andrews said.
The premier said it would be inappropriate to comment on the man getting bail while the matter was still before the courts, but added the government had made reforms in the area and was ready to do more if needed.
The decision to grant Wells bail sent social media into a meltdown, with former Premier of Victoria Jeff Kennett and Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield weighing in.
Mr Kennett told the Herald Sun that the man’s release on bail was “totally unacceptable” because the footage was “harrowing”.
“Nothing has made me cringe more than the footage I saw of this individual, walking down the street, landing a blow on an innocent individual walking in the other direction,” Mr Kennett said.
“That could have been you, it could have been me, it could’ve been any one of the 99 per cent of law abiding citizens … I cringed.
“Then to find this individual has been released on bail beggars belief. It was the most terrible act. It was the most awful footage.”
Geelong Cats star Patrick Dangerfield simply tweeted the perpetrator was a “pathetic human”.
EX CHIEF MAGISTRATE: ‘THE JAILS ARE FULL’
Earlier today, former Victorian Chief Magistrate Nick Papas QC told 3AW’s Neil Mitchell that magistrates apply the criteria in the Bail Act when making decisions.
“I think we need to be very clear about this, he’s charged with an offence that doesn’t attract, what used to be called the reverse onus. Nowadays, he’s not required to show compelling circumstances why he should receive bail,” Mr Papas said.
“I don’t know whether he’s got prior convictions, I don’t know whether he’s breached bail before but on the face of it, he’s allegedly committed a very serious offence, but it still comes under the threshold.”
Mr Papas said the accused man had been given bail with very strict conditions.
“Listeners have to be aware, the jails are full,” he said.
“They (prisoners) each cost $100,000 per year to keep in jail.”
Ryan Wells, who is a concreter, has been accused of allegedly elbowing a man as he walked along Nepean Highway about 7.40pm on Thursday.
Detective Senior Constable Belinda Rampal told Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Monday that the victim was too scared to report the attack for fear of retribution.
CCTV footage of the assault appears to show Wells and his brother, Joel, laugh as they walk from the alleged victim. They handed themselves in to Frankston police station, with Joel released without charge.
Sen-Constable Rampal told the court the pair and another man had been drinking at the Grand Hotel in Frankston leading up to the random attack. Wells had admitted taking cocaine, drinking 10 schooners of beer and four bourbons and coke.
Sen-Constable Rampal said Wells had shown “no remorse for the victim” and “looked proud of the attack”.
She told the court the victim lay “motionless” on the ground for two minutes following the attack.
He had swelling to the back of the head and had a $2000 pair of dentures broken. “He had to hold on to the wall to keep himself upright,” she said.
Police opposed bail, arguing Wells posed an unacceptable risk to the public, but his lawyer successfully argued he had stable work, income and a place to live.
Wells was supported in court by his mum and dad, sister and girlfriend. His brother, Joel, was not there.
Magistrate Ross Betts placed Wells on a 9pm-5am curfew and ordered him to not consume alcohol or drugs, attend licensed venues or contact witnesses.
Wells’ next court appearance is on August 6.