Murat Shomshe jailed for police chase in stolen $300k Porsche
A runaway groom who made national headlines when he skipped out on his new bride while on bail for a shocking shooting in 2015, has again found himself behind bars for another terrifying crime.
Police & Courts
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A runaway groom, who previously skipped town after he was bailed to get married, has found himself back behind bars for a “ridiculous” police pursuit in a luxury car.
Murat Shomshe, 38, was jailed on Thursday for stealing a $300k Porsche and leading Victoria Police’s air-wing on a wild chase through Melbourne’s south west, clocking speeds of up to 230km/h in January last year.
To make matters worse Shomshe, a mechanic by trade, has not held a licence in more than a decade, the court heard.
The offending took place while the father-of-two was on a community corrections order for a 2014 shooting incident during which he fired three bullets at a woman’s car following a dispute over a minor debt.
While in custody for the shooting, he begged a County Court Judge to grant him bail so he could marry his fiancee or risk losing a $6000 wedding deposit.
But in a move which attracted national headlines, Shomshe skipped out on his new bride and the law and went on a run for a week.
He was eventually arrested at a pole dancing studio in Campbellfield and served three years prison for the shooting.
Belinda Dulevski, who was in the shower when her hubby did a runner, wrote a letter to the court in support of Shomshe for his most recent offending, despite the couple no longer being together.
County Court Judge Kevin Doyle said Shomshe’s driving on January 2 last year at extreme speeds in a high performance vehicle showed a complete disregard for other road users.
The court heard Shomshe was first spotted by police in the stolen Porsche in Hoppers Crossing about 2am before travelling through Laverton and Deer Park at speeds exceeding 200km/h in a 60km/h zone.
Shomshe passed more than a dozen cars and ran multiple red lights during his wild ride – which he told police was merely a “test drive” for his work as a mechanic – but thankfully, there were no near misses, Judge Doyle said.
“It does not appear that at any stage you were not in control of the vehicle,”
“But as an example of appalling driving, it’s hard to top,” Judge Doyle said.
Shomshe was eventually intercepted in Hillside and has been in custody since.
The court heard Shomshe had a significant criminal record and history of substance abuse.
Judge Doyle said while a letter written to the court by Shomshe showed some level of insight, it was “difficult to have any great optimism concerning the prospects of rehabilitation”.
Shomshe pleaded guilty to conduct endangering persons, theft of a motor vehicle and possessing ice and diazepam.
Judge Doyle sentenced him to 15 months prison.
Shomshe will be released in just over a month with time served.
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