Malachi Fisher’s co-accused in BWS ram raid – James Songoro jailed

The co-offender in a ram raid involving a teen who was tracked down by an angry mob of 100 people fed up with youth crime, had only recently been released from jail, a court has heard.

James Dane Songoro, 22, attended the Park Avenue BWS at 4.10am on May 6, in the company of eight others, and conducted a ram raid on that BWS, stealing a large amount of alcohol and money.

A recently paroled thief who took part in a bottle shop ram raid which helped trigger an anti-youth-crime rally outside the home of his 18-year-old co-accused, has been sentenced.

Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard James Dane Songoro, 22, was one of nine people who helped smash into the Park Avenue BWS where a large amount of money and alcohol was taken in the early hours of Monday, May 6.

This ram raid was part of a crime wave in the Rockhampton region which, two days later, led an angry mob of more than 100 people frustrated at the youth crime crisis to gather for a “rally” at Central Park to organise “neighbourhood watch groups”.

The group was then given an address where co-offender Malachi Samuel Charles Fisher, who has since been convicted and jailed for his role in the ram raid and other burglaries, was staying.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox told the court during Fisher’s sentencing that there was significant damage to the BWS store, including smashed glass, sliding doors and loss of money as the business was unable to trade until repairs were complete.

During Songoro’s sentencing, the court heard he had also attempted to enter a house at night by trying to break through the back door, broke into a car and stole two wallets and tried a car lock and carried out a fuel drive off.

He’d also been released on parole on March 17, only two months before the ram raid, for similar offending.

Defence lawyer Brendan Gimbert told the court his client had left his hometown of Cairns four years ago and relocated to Rockhampton with his partner of nine years, because she had family and accommodation in the Central Queensland region.

The partner however, was also in jail and the couple’s children were living with her mother but he had no family support, the court heard.

“When he was released, he didn’t have any identification or any paperwork or any personal belongings,” Mr Gimbert said.

“He just spiralled because of his living situation,” Mr Gimbert said.

Songoro pleaded guilty one count each of entering a premise and committing an indictable offence, attempted to enter a dwelling and with intent at night, stealing, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, attempted enter premises with intent to commit an indictable offence and one of entering a premise by break and committing an indictable offence.

He was sentenced to 18 months in jail with parole eligibility set at November 23, 2023.

Originally published as Malachi Fisher’s co-accused in BWS ram raid – James Songoro jailed