Man dragged trying to stop car theft: court

POLICE claim a 20-year-old man involved in a violent armed robbery in Toowoomba Wednesday night had only been released from custody hours before.

A police motorbike damaged in an incident that left a male sergeant from the Road Policing Command with a dislocated shoulder, rib, hand and ankle injuries, Thursday, January 24, 2019. Picture: Kevin Farmer

POLICE claim a 20-year-old man involved in a violent armed robbery in Toowoomba Wednesday night had only been released from custody hours before.

Police allege Jayell Mykell Ferris, Jasmine Anoelie Veneris, 25, and a third man referred to in court as "Male One” had gone to a Mt Lofty residence about 10pm and were allowed in for a drink by the home owner, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

However, during conversation the trio asked for the owner's car who refused leading to Male One allegedly pointing a 30cm carving knife taken from the man's kitchen at his chest.

After the complainant was allegedly threatened he would be "kneecapped” if he went to police, it is alleged the three then went to the garage and got into the man's car.

During Ferris' bail application, the court heard as Male One was reversing out with the other two as passengers, the complainant man had emerged with a baseball bat and tried to stop them.

Magistrate Catherine Pirie, reading from the police objection to bail, noted the complainant was dragged down the driveway and into the street, sustaining abrasions and a cut to the back of his head.

The car then drove on but was stopped by police in North Toowoomba about 10.25pm after which the two passengers allegedly fled only to be quickly run down by pursuing police and arrested.

The driver was arrested at the scene where a struggle with officers ensued.

Male One was taken to the hospital where he remained while his two co-accused applied for bail in separate court appearances.

Ms Pirie noted Ferris had been before the same court that very day on a range of charges (see adjoining "Viagra” story) and was released from the watch house after being handed a $2000 fine.

He was also subject to a probation order and a suspended sentence imposed by the District Court, she said.

Ferris had three children who resided with their respective mothers, the court heard.

"That is a very serious set of circumstances,” Ms Pirie said relating to the police allegations.

"That type of offending will result in imprisonment (if convicted).”

Ms Pirie refused Ferris bail and remanded him in custody to appear by video link from the prison back in the same court on April 4.

Solicitor Claire Graham, for Veneris, told the court her client instructed she had asked the driver to stop the car and that she had wanted to get out.

Veneris had moved to Toowoomba from Redcliffe to be near her two children who lived with their father here and had only met Male One that day, she said.

Magistrate Pirie said Veneris's position was different to her co-accused and granted bail on condition she live with her mother at Redcliffe, report to police and abide by a curfew.

Originally published as Man dragged trying to stop car theft: court