Nicholas Pasini cops $2000 fine after ‘not engaging with police’ over involvement in a drink-driving collision
A Brighton man told police he “wasn’t required to inform them of who was driving” following a drink-driving collision on the way to the casino.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A fruit and vegetable vendor has fronted court over obstructing a police investigation after he was involved in a drink-driving collision and was “unable” to identify the person driving his car.
Brighton man Nicholas Pasini pleaded guilty in the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court via video link on July 7 after a night out turned into a nightmare when his Mercedes collided with another car at a Brighton intersection.
The court heard Pasini had attended a pub in Black Rock on November 25 last year after work, where he met two men at the bar.
After a few hours of drinking, the trio decided to try their luck at the casino and hopped in Pasini’s Mercedes
But their luck ran out when the car was involved in a collision at 10.41pm when the driver failed to stop at a red traffic light in Brighton.
The court heard Pasini and one passenger remained behind at the scene of the collision, claiming the driver had been “scared” and ran away.
Police attended the collision at 11pm, where both Pasini and the passenger couldn’t give details of who was driving the vehicle.
After taking down Pasini’s details, police told him he was required “to make reasonable inquiries as to who was driving in the collision”, giving him a week to find out more.
Police attended Pasini’s Brighton residence three weeks later after hearing nothing from him, but he was not home.
Using the number he had provided, officers contacted Pasini, however he refused to talk, saying he “had to speak with his lawyer” and that he “wasn’t required to inform the police who the driver was”.
The court heard police never received any information regarding the driver since the time of the incident.
Magistrate Stephen Lee said the offending was considerably hard to sentence, due to Pasini’s claim that he wasn’t driving.
“It appears at minimum, you’ve met up with your mates at the pub, decided to go to the casino, and an accident happened,” he said.
“You didn’t give police information for the driver, and you’ve had no success finding out who this mystery pub friend is.”
Mr Lee said the situation was worsened by the fact that Pasini had made no contact with police since the night of the accident.
“There is no evidence whatsoever that you’ve made any attempt to contact police,” he said.
“This goes to your moral culpability.
“This is serious offending, because it speaks to public safety issues. It looks like the three of you made a pretty ill-judged decision to get in the car after you were drinking, the driver probably well over the limit. It’s a pretty significant road safety incident.”
Mr Lee said Pasini had endangered himself and other people in the community.
“You haven’t helped your case by failing to engage with Victoria Police,” Mr Lee said.
“Your explanation that you don’t know the driver is glib and a bit suspicious.”
Mr Lee said the incident was a serious example of the offence because Pasini didn’t engage with police where a drink-driving offence occurred.
Pasini was fined $2000 with conviction and his licence was suspended for two months.
gemma.scerri@news.com.au
