By Lachlan Abbott and Erin Pearson
A teenage boy released on bail last week after allegedly killing a motorist while driving a stolen vehicle has been arrested after allegedly breaching bail.
On Tuesday night, police said they were searching for a 17-year-old boy involved in the fatal crash in Burwood on July 2. He was arrested hours later.
The scene of the fatal Burwood crash.Credit: Nine
The 17-year-old appeared before a bail justice on Tuesday night and was remanded to appear before a children’s court on Wednesday.
The family of the Burwood crash victim – 28-year-old Ashburton man William Taylor – flew back into the country after learning of his death. Police told the court in the boy’s last children’s court appearance that the family opposed his release on bail.
“Will was a much-loved son, brother, partner and friend. He was a quiet, intelligent and thoughtful young man who loved his sport,” Taylor’s family said in a statement.
“We are heartbroken and ask our privacy is respected as we come to terms with this devastating loss.”
William Taylor, 28, was killed in the crash.
Taylor was left for dead when a stolen Jeep Cherokee ploughed into his Toyota Corolla as he attempted to turn right from Warrigal Road in Burwood shortly before 7pm last Tuesday.
Police believe six young people in the Jeep then fled the scene on foot while members of the public tried to help Taylor, who died at the scene.
Two 15-year-old girls were arrested soon after and the 17-year-old boy was arrested on Wednesday evening.
The boy was released to stay with his mother after facing the children’s court. His bail conditions included a curfew, Youth Justice-supervised bail, not to associate with two 15-year-olds also charged over the Burwood crash, and not to drive a motor vehicle.
“These bail conditions are ones you cannot break. If you do break a bail condition, this all starts again,” the magistrate said.
During the bail application, the court heard Youth Justice had found the 17-year-old unsuitable for supervision.
“We were concerned about the nature of his peer group,” a Youth Justice worker said.
The court also heard that between the fatal crash and the 17-year-old’s arrest, he attended a children’s court to have conditions of an earlier diversion program extended.
The boy is facing charges including culpable driving and theft of a motorcar.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen granted him bail and said: “As the evidence currently stands, the prosecution case is weak.”
During an earlier hearing on Thursday, the court heard police intended to use a pair of white sneakers and mobile phone data to place the 17-year-old behind the wheel in the fatal hit-run collision.
Detective Senior Sergeant Christian Von Tunk said CCTV footage of the crash showed only one person get out of the Jeep wearing white sneakers, and police later seized shoes of the same colour from the accused’s home.
But the magistrate was critical of the evidence, telling the court many people in the community own white shoes.
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