Younger brother accused of Heyington station cop bashing freed on bail
Despite strong opposition from police, the younger brother who allegedly bashed a top cop has been released on bail — under a number of strict conditions.
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The younger of two brothers accused of bashing a top transport cop has been freed back into the community — but is forbidden from having contact with his sibling and father.
Melbourne magistrate Duncan Reynolds today granted Isaiah Stephens bail under the watchful eye of a youth justice worker, despite strong opposition by police.
Mr Stephens, 18, must also abide by a curfew from 10pm to 5am and not consume alcohol or use illicit drugs.
He and his older brother Jay Stephens, 20, were charged on Monday over the attack on Transit and Public Safety Command Assistant Commissioner Chris O’Neill near Heyington train station on Saturday night.
The court earlier heard Mr O’Neill, 60, was attacked after he followed and confronted the pair as they entered St Kevin’s College grounds, near the station’s entrance.
He had watched them be ejected from the train for anti-social behaviour moments earlier, the court also heard.
Mr O’Neill suffered three fractured ribs, contusions on his lungs and bruising to his face and had to be taken to hospital.
Mr Stephens’ bail comes less than 48 hours after his father, Jared Pihlgren, also faced court and was refused bail on charges of intimidating law enforcement officers and using a telecommunication device to menace.
Older brother Jay Stephens made no attempt for bail when he appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and was remanded until September 9.
Mr Reynolds said Isaiah Stephens “doesn’t have a helpful family environment”.
Isaiah Stephens shook his head in the dock as further details of his father’s alleged intimidation tactics were revealed in court.
Sergeant Matthew Rizun opposed bail, saying Isaiah Stephens’ risk of fleeing the jurisdiction was increased as his employment was in doubt after his father threatened his employer and two employees at the factory on Tuesday night.
Mr Pihlgren also posted a photo of the employer's’ wife and children on his Facebook page in a “veiled threat”, Sgt Rizun said.
The employer told Sgt Rizun, the court heard, that Isaiah Stephens’ work in recent weeks had been “quite poor” and they were about to issue him a warning.
But the employer said he was willing to consider taking back Isaiah if youth justice were involved to offer him support.
Mr Reynolds said youth justice had assessed him suitable and outlined they would work with him to address three main issues: substance abuse, anger and negative family influences.
He ordered that Mr Stephens obey all instructions of his youth justice worker.
He also made it a condition of bail that he has no contact with his father or co-accused sibling.