Former AFL WAG Bec Judd has unleashed another scathing attack on Victoria’s youth crime laws after a teenager accused of killing a motorcyclist while running a red light in an allegedly stolen car was again allowed to walk free, despite violating multiple bail conditions.
The teenager, 17, who faces charges of culpable driving and dangerous driving which caused the death of Davide Pollina, 19, in the Melbourne suburb of Preston in August, was granted bail again last week, despite on a series of charges after he was allegedly caught again. the wheel.
Police allege the unlicensed driver was stopped while driving his girlfriend’s car in Reservoir in the early hours of November 12.
He allegedly gave police a false name before they found a machete and cannabis inside the vehicle.
The teenager was also banned from driving and allegedly breached the 10pm to 6am curfew that was part of his bail conditions, police said. Herald of the sun reported.
Despite multiple bail violations, a Youth Court magistrate again granted bail to the teenager on Thursday, despite police strongly opposing the move.
Judd, who has become a frequent critic of out-of-control youth crime in Victoria, took time out of her family Christmas holiday in Japan on Sunday to express her outrage that the teenager was granted bail.
‘Does anyone else feel like we live in a completely lawless state?’ Judd captioned a screenshot of the article.
Former AFL WAG turned anti-crime crusader Bec Judd has become a frequent critic of out-of-control youth crime in Victoria.
Bec Judd intervened after the teenager accused of killing a young motorcyclist was released on bail again on Thursday.
The teen’s lawyer told the court at Thursday’s hearing that his client had taken his three companions to a 7-Eleven for “a drink.”
The lawyer did not explain why there was a machete inside the vehicle.
Although the teenager also did not respond to police beatings at his home during his nightly curfew, the court again granted him bail.
It was the second attempt to keep the young man locked up since September, when police alleged he was skipping school.
At last week’s hearing, prosecutors argued that the boy was a danger to the public because of his continued driving without a license and his parents’ lack of control.
The teenager was originally granted bail in August after he allegedly threw a stolen BMW at Pollina, who was cycling home.
A motorcyclist died in the northeastern Melbourne suburb of Preston on August 11 after a 17-year-old boy allegedly driving a stolen BMW ran a red light and then fled the scene.
Davide Pollina was the 19-year-old motorcyclist allegedly killed by the 17-year-old in an allegedly stolen BMW
The driver and a passenger allegedly fled the scene before police, who were tracking the BMW, performed CPR on Mr. Pollina.
After the alleged driver was originally granted bail by the Youth Court in August, the Pollina family told Nine News they expressed their disappointment amid fears the teenager would reoffend.
Police allege the 17-year-old was one of three teenagers – the others were 16 – who stole a BMW and a Mazda from a house in Pascoe Vale South before the collision.
The three involved in the alleged theft of two cars have since been granted bail.
Figures released this week showed the youth crime rate in Victoria has soared to its highest level since 2009.
More than half a million (578,762) crimes were recorded in the 12-month period to September, an increase of 13.4 per cent.
In August, Victoria’s parliament voted to strengthen bail laws for young offenders.
However, the amended legislation still raises the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years.
Under former Prime Minister Daniel Andrews, the government pledged in 2023 to raise the age to 14 by 2027, with exceptions for serious crimes such as murder and terrorism.
But following a series of high-profile incidents involving youth offenders, including two fatal car crashes in the past two months, First Minister Jacinta Allan said the sentence would remain at 12 years.