A motorcyclist arrested at the scene of a fatal multi-vehicle crash on the Sydney Harbor Bridge allegedly ran over an officer while speeding away from police, a court has been told.
Ali Al-Robay, 24, appeared at Downing Center Local Court on Friday charged with 12 driving offences, including speeding and three counts of failing to stop when told to do so.
The world-renowned bridge and busy road were closed following Thursday’s horror six-person crash, which left two men dead and paramedics rushed to treat other injured motorists.
Police allege they were attempting to reopen the bridge lanes when Al-Robay, who was riding a black Honda motorcycle, ignored officers’ repeated orders to stop weaving through stopped traffic.
As he sped off, Mr. Al-Robay was stopped by police managing the interior crime scene and, while under arrest, he allegedly assaulted both police and transport staff.
Opposing Mr Al-Robay’s release on bail, the police prosecutor told the court that “the issue is one of non-compliance” and that the motorcyclist had hit an officer after he was ordered to stop his motorcycle.
“He came face to face with a NSW police officer who entered the lane he was traveling in, (and) the appellant accelerated and struck the officer with his motorcycle,” he alleged.
“We’re very lucky that there wasn’t any major injury at that time.”
A motorcyclist arrested at the scene of a fatal multi-vehicle crash on the Sydney Harbor Bridge (pictured) allegedly struck a police officer while speeding away from officers.
The father of motorcyclist Al-Robay arrives at a Sydney court on Friday.
The prosecutor said Al-Robay had been approached earlier by two transport management officers whom he allegedly “overlooked” and accelerated to speeds of up to 70 kilometers in a 40-kilometre zone.
He went on to detail the 24-year-old’s criminal and traffic history, which included multiple convictions for driving while not permitted to do so, violating P-plate restrictions, and a chase.
The prosecutor described Mr Al-Robay’s alleged crime as being of an “escalating nature” and said he was someone “who should not be driving or cycling, even though he does so constantly”.
Al-Robay’s lawyer, George Thomas, claimed the most recent offense was speeding and suggested bail conditions that included bans on cycling and what amounted to a nighttime curfew.
He also told the court that Al-Robay had denied deliberately hitting the officer who, according to his lawyer, “jumped in front” of the bike, but admitted that he “should have known that could happen.”
‘It was an act of stupidity and I dare say it was not planned. “He has been faced with a situation where he did not know what awaited him,” his lawyer told the court.
The accident paralyzed traffic (pictured) with queues of up to 12km across Sydney.
Two people died and others were treated for injuries during Thursday’s terrifying crash.
‘There were certainly signs to stop… but he (Mr Al-Robay) must not have known what was ahead and if he made the mistake it was the mistake of not complying with those signs.
“So, at some point he saw the massacre and carried out the activity that was referred to… He is a bystander who does not comply with instructions.”
Al-Robay’s lawyer said the 24-year-old had good prospects for rehabilitation because he was in his final year of studying civil engineering at the University of Technology Sydney and was living with his family.
The court was told it was possible charges of fraud could be brought in relation to the registration, but that ultimately, if convicted or pleaded guilty, he would not receive a full-time prison sentence.
In refusing bail, the magistrate said that while police said he had shown “great remorse”, his traffic record was “concerning” and that his alleged actions “did not give confidence” that he would comply with bail. bail.
Mr Al-Robay was taken to Day Street police station on Thursday, where he was refused bail after being charged with offenses including knowingly driving in a manner that threatens others.
He was also charged with driving under suspension, in an unregistered vehicle, without insurance, without paying taxes, using an unauthorized license plate and ignoring a no entry sign.