Bailey Liam Richter, Neerim Ropata Reginald Lloyd Peters charged after damaging police car
Two mates, one wild night, one stupid decision and one damaged police car – but only one of the pair will have to fork out for damage bill. Read what happened
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Two mates, one wild night, one stupid decision and one damaged police car – but only one of the pair will have to fork out for the $10,000 damage bill after two magistrates took different views.
Bailey Liam Richter, 22, and Neerim Ropata Reginald Lloyd Peters, 26, had been partying at Airlie Beach when the older man decided to jump on a police car because he was bored about 3am on October 10, 2021.
Richter, a second year apprentice carpenter, was encouraged to join and he did, later telling police “he had been dancing on the roof of the vehicle”, Moranbah Magistrates Court heard.
As a result, the pair dented the car – onlookers called out for them to stop and officers soon rushed to the unattended police vehicle.
Both were charged with wilful damage of police property and being a public nuisance in the vicinity of licensed premises, to which they respectively pleaded guilty.
Peters avoided having to pay any of the $10,456.58 damage bill while Richter must pay half.
Fisher Dore Lawyers solicitor Sean Gibbs, for Richter, said his client worked in Moranbah earning about $800 per week and lived in Mackay.
Mr Gibbs argued for his client to also avoid paying any of the restitution, but Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert rejected the submission.
“In my view he should pay for damage caused to the vehicle because he was a willing participant,” Ms Gilbert said.
Ms Gilbert reduced the fine because of the restitution order but said “in no way, shape or form” would she allow him to avoid paying for the damage.
Richter was fined $250 and ordered to pay $5233 restitution. Convictions were not recorded.
Peters appeared in Proserpine and Bowen Magistrates Courts in early November when Magistrate James Morton questioned the repair bill over “a dint in the roof and a few handprints”.
The court heard repair works would require the removal of the entire roof, but Mr Morton was unconvinced commenting “this is typical of panel beaters”.
Ultimately Mr Morton determined Peters’ lack of stable employment made him incapable of paying any restitution amount. He was fined $850 and banned from the Airlie Beach Safe Night Precinct for 12 months. Convictions were recorded.
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Originally published as Bailey Liam Richter, Neerim Ropata Reginald Lloyd Peters charged after damaging police car
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