McCrae law firm employee Eleisha Antunovic pleads guilty to car theft and assault
A wildcat Mornington Peninsula law firm staffer’s job is on the line after she was convicted for assaulting a DiDi driver and stealing his car.
South East
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A law firm admin staffer has admitted assaulting a DiDi driver and stealing his car following a $200 fare from Moorabbin to McCrae.
Eleisha Antunovic, 31, was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to a 12-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to car theft and assault.
Antunovic ordered a $200.25 DiDi rideshare trip which was accepted by her 23-year-old victim just after midnight on March 22 this year.
The victim collected Antunovic from her Moorabbin location before arriving at a McCrae address about 1am, the court heard.
Antunovic, who asked the driver to pull over and let her out before the fare payment was processed, then clobbered her victim in the back of the head.
The driver, who suffered “intense and immediate” pain, tussled with Antunovic who was in possession of a yellow titanium gas cylinder.
The victim wrangled the canister from Antunovic and hopped out of his Toyota Camry.
Antunovic hopped into the driver’s seat and drove off but the victim had placed his hand on the driver’s door to thwart her getaway.
Antunovic slammed the door shut, which “briefly” trapped her victim’s hand in the door, and sped off.
The victim, who again suffered intense and immediate pain, sustained swelling and lacerations to his hand.
Antunovic was off and gone as she sped away through McCrae.
The victim, who had possession of the car’s push start key and Antunovic’s canister, couldn’t find his phone so he banged on the door of a nearby home.
The court heard the occupant of the home was “too scared” to answer the door so they called triple-0.
Antunovic, of McCrae, was spotted standing next to the Camry, which was parked in the middle of a road just before 2am.
A witness attempted to communicate with Antunovic but she was “drug affected” and “incoherent”.
Police arrested Antunovic and hauled her to Rosebud police station but she was deemed “unfit” to be interviewed.
Antunovic, who made “no comment” regarding the offending during an interview held later that morning, told police she had recently taken herself off prescription drugs.
Jessie Knights, for Antunovic, told the court her client currently worked casually doing admin for a law firm.
The court heard Antunovic had experienced drug use and mental health issues but was now seeking treatment.
“She’s looking forward to having her court matters finalised … and being able to engage in regular employment,” Ms Knights said.
Diane Hogan, for the OPP, said rehabilitation was a sentencing consideration.
Magistrate Donna Bakos said the victim was too scared to drive and quit his job after the incident.
“The impact upon the victim was likely serious,” Magistrate Bakos said.
Magistrate Bakos took into account Antunovic’s early guilty plea, her insight into addressing her problems and the support of her family.
Antunovic, who had spent 59 days on remand, was convicted and ordered to recommence a community correction order.
