Robert Shanmugalathan fronts Melbourne court for alleged dangerous driving causing serious injury in Tooradin
A Newport man accused of seriously injuring a motorcyclist in Melbourne’s southeast has told the court he is “distressed” by the charges.
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A Newport man accused of seriously injuring a motorcyclist in Melbourne’s southeast has told the court he is “distressed” by the charges.
Robert Shanmugalathan, 35, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for a filing hearing for alleged dangerous driving causing serious injury.
Police alleged Mr Shanmugalathan drove his BMW sedan into the path of a motorbike on the South Gippsland Hwy, near the intersection of Dalmore Rd in Tooradin on Monday.
The rider — a 39-year-old Jam Jerrup man — suffered life-threatening injuries and was flown to The Alfred.
Mr Shanmugalathan was arrested at the scene.
On Wednesday, the prosecution asked the court for more time to present a mechanical inspection and crash reconstruction report.
The court heard the rider’s condition was not yet stabilised and his prognosis was unclear.
Mr Shanmugalathan’s lawyer, in arguing for a suppression order, said the accusations had caused him “quite a bit of distress”.
The court heard since Mr Shanmugalathan came to Australia from Sri Lanka in 2012 on a protection visa, his future immigration status could be affected if his name was out in the open.
Magistrate Matthew Page said since proceedings were being heard in open court, the media was entitled to report his name, including the charge, unless Mr Shanmugalathan made an application for name suppression.
The magistrate stood the matter for his legal team to consider the suppression order application but when the court re-convened, Mr Shanmugalathan said he did not wish to press for name suppression.
He was remanded on bail to appear on May 27.