A boy accused of killing a driver has been given bail to stay with his mother despite the family of the dead man urging the courts to keep him locked up.
The 17-year-old was released to stay with his mother after facing the children’s court for the second time this week. After the fatal crash – but before he was arrested – the boy had attended court to have diversion conditions extended over previous offences, including armed robbery and false imprisonment, and pending matters for alleged theft and unlicensed driving.
The crash scene on Tuesday night.Credit: Nine News
The family of the victim – 28-year-old Ashburton man William Taylor – opposed his release from custody, hours after they flew back into the country after learning of his death. Three youths involved in a fatal hit-run crash in Burwood in Melbourne’s east remain on the run.
“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.”
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 on Tuesday.
William Taylor was killed in Burwood.
Police believe six young people from inside the Jeep then fled the scene on foot while members of the public tried to help the Toyota driver, 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.
In opposing the accused killer driver’s release on bail, Detective Sergeant Peter Romanis, of the major collision unit, said it appeared the stolen Jeep was travelling at above 100km/h at the time of impact.
The detective said that while the Jeep’s front airbag failed to go off in the crash, those inside may still have sustained some injuries, prompting police to apply to the court to physically examine the 17-year-old, which was ultimately refused by the magistrate.
Two 15-year-old girls were arrested after trying to flee the scene.Credit: Nine News
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.
His prior involvement with police, the court was told, included armed robbery and false imprisonment with pending matters for alleged theft and unlicensed driving remaining.
The 17-year-old attends a private boys’ school.
“The fact that the vehicle was being driven in such an erratic manner in my view poses a significant public risk if he were to be granted bail,” Romanis said.
The stolen Jeep.Credit: Nine News
The boy is facing charges including culpable driving and theft of a motorcar.
In granting the teenager bail, magistrate Jack Vandersteen said he must abide by a nightly curfew, not drive a vehicle and not associate with the two 15-year-old girls arrested over the same incident.
“It’s a very serious allegation,” Vandersteen 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 a 17-year-old boy behind the wheel of a fatal hit-run collision in Burwood.
It came as Police Minister Anthony Carbines gave his strongest indication yet that the state government might ditch plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14.
Detective Senior Sergeant Christian Von Tunk told the hearing the Jeep had been stolen during an aggravated burglary on June 24, and was later used in an armed robbery with a machete on an Ormond cigarette shop.
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 owned white shoes.
Taylor was on his way to training with Mount Waverley City Soccer Club on Tuesday evening when the fatal hit-run collision occurred. The club released a statement on Friday afternoon.
“Mount Waverley City Soccer Club would like to express our condolences to the family and girlfriend of Will Taylor,” the club said. “We are deeply saddened by his sudden passing. Will was a genuine and kind person who will be sincerely missed by all who ever had the pleasure of meeting him. RIP Wilba, our friend and teammate.”
The state is planning to raise the age of criminal responsibility set from 2025 as part of a mammoth youth justice bill.
In an interview with The Age on Thursday, Carbines said the government remained committed to raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12, but he understood community concern about plans to raise it to 14.
When asked if the courts needed to be tougher on youth offenders, he said justice was complex but agreed the system must continue to evolve to meet community expectations.
He said there was also an expectation the courts explain their decisions to the public.
In applying for bail for his client on Friday, the 17-year-old’s lawyer said that while the fatal consequences of what occurred in Burwood this week were not lost on him, the children’s court test for bail was one set by the government.
“It’s how parliament has put this offence,” he said.
The case is due to return to court next month.
Anyone with information about the Burwood crash or who has CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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2024-07-05 08:04:01Z
CBMiiQFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL2FjY3VzZWQta2lsbGVyLXRlZW4tZHJpdmVyLWJhaWxlZC1kZXNwaXRlLWRlYWQtbWFuLXMtZmFtaWx5LXMtb2JqZWN0aW9ucy0yMDI0MDcwNS1wNWpyZDguaHRtbNIBAA
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