By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A DOVETON man tore through red lights in a stolen Yaris as he was pursued by police for up to 45 minutes through Casey suburbs on a weekday evening, a court bail hearing was told on 14 December.
Yusef Amr was on bail and a suspended driver at the time of the chase on 25 November, when he allegedly drove at high speed, on the wrong side of busy roads, and cut off vehicles already turning in turning lanes.
Even after hitting police-placed stop-sticks, Amr drove for 10 minutes on bare wheel rims with sparks trailing behind his car, the court heard.
Earlier that afternoon, police spotted Amr in the Yaris bearing number plates recently stolen from another Yaris at Sandown Park railway station.
He was allegedly travelling at a speed “well over 100 kilometres an hour” on Princes Highway, with smoke emitting from tyres.
About 5pm, a witness on an Oleander Street nature strip, Doveton was narrowly missed by Amr, who was allegedly travelling fast, out of control and dropping smoky, screechy burnouts in the Yaris.
Three associates then menaced the witness with a sawn-off shotgun, and Amr punched the victim in the side of the face, the court was told.
The man is still seeking medical tests on his swollen jaw.
About 7.50pm, police vehicles and Air Wing followed Amr through Hallam, Hampton Park, Narre Warren and Doveton for about 45 minutes – although Amr contends it was for a shorter time.
Detective Senior Constable Brad Coller, of Casey CIU, told the court that Amr sped off from police twice after they activated emergency lights and sirens.
Amr had claimed to have bought the Yaris from people “known to police” in November, the court was told.
The accused – who had an admitted dependence on ice, cannabis and pharmaceutical drugs – had evaded police by allegedly driving off in a dangerous manner in his father’s car in Springvale several weeks earlier.
Amr had just completed two terms of imprisonment over offences including aggravated burglary, theft of a vehicle, unlicenced driving and dangerous driving while being pursued by police, the court heard.
If bailed, Amr would resume living with his parents, who were supportive of him but had little control over his behaviour, Det Sen Const Coller said.
Defence lawyer Jonathan Miller said Amr was assessed as suitable for CREDIT bail, which would give him a chance to “fix himself up”.
If released, the accused was offered a commercial rendering apprenticeship by a family friend, Mr Miller said.
“He needs something better to do with his days, and that’s it.”
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said he had refused bail for Amr last year because the accused’s parents had “little control” and his live-in brother had also been in “extensive trouble”.
“How can I (release Amr) when they both have extensive prior convictions and both are still living there?”
Mr Miller argued that Amr couldn’t avoid his brother, who didn’t seem to be involved in the accused’s recent offending.
“They’re a tight family unit who spend time together.”
Mr Vandersteen noted that Amr faced at least nine months’ jail for the police pursuit alone. It was fortunate no-one was killed, he said.
He rejected bail due to Amr’s unacceptable risk of reoffending and interfering with witnesses, as well as a failure to ‘show cause’.
Amr was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 12 January.
