A boy who was allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen car that struck and killed a teenage motorcyclist as he drove home has been granted bail just days after the state government promised to toughen bail laws for young people.
Davide Pollina, 19, was killed when a BMW collided with his motorcycle at the intersection of Bell Street and Victoria Street in Preston, north Melbourne, early Sunday morning.
Police allege three teenagers stole a BMW and a Mazda from a home in Pascoe Vale South at about 11.40pm on Saturday night.
An hour later, police who had been tracking the suspected stolen cars arrived at the crash scene in Preston, 4 miles away, and performed CPR on Mr Pollina, who could not be revived.
Police say two occupants of the BMW fled the scene.
Three teenagers, two aged 16 and one aged 17, have since been arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in the alleged robbery and accident.
The courts have since granted all three bail.
The 16-year-old who police say was behind the wheel of the BMW was arrested at his home in Heidelberg West on Saturday morning.
The teenager was charged with eight offences including dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and render assistance, home invasion, aggravated burglary while someone was home, theft of a motor vehicle and robbery.
Despite the alleged crimes, he was granted bail at a juvenile court hearing, a decision that has devastated Pollina’s grieving family.
Davide Pollina, 19, was killed when a BMW collided with his motorcycle in Preston, north of Melbourne, on Sunday morning.
Police allege two teenagers got out of the car and fled the scene and both have since been granted bail.
The teenager will appear in court again next month.
The Pollina family told Nine News they are disappointed the alleged driver has been granted bail and fear he will reoffend.
The arrest came three days after two other teenagers were charged.
A 16-year-old from Wallan allegedly In the passenger seat of the BMW He was arrested the night of the collision.
He was initially released pending further investigation, but was… Arrested again last Wednesday.
He was charged with home invasion, aggravated robbery with a person present, motor vehicle theft, criminal damage, two counts of reckless conduct endangering serious injury, driving while disqualified and failing to comply with telephone passcode.
A 17-year-old Preston teenager who allegedly stole the Mazda that night was arrested the same day.
He was charged with motor vehicle theft, reckless endangerment causing serious injury and criminal damage.
Davide’s family criticized the decision to grant the teenager allegedly
Davide is understood to have planned to propose to his girlfriend Sylvana Kassab, who witnessed the fatal crash, later on Sunday.
Davide’s girlfriend, Sylvana Kassab, who witnessed the fatal accident, was later murdered. He told her he planned to pop the question later on Sunday.
The decision comes three days later. after the Victorian parliament voted to strengthen bail laws.
The amended legislation will raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years.
Under former Premier 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 after a series of high-profile incidents involving juvenile offenders, including two fatal car crashes in the past two months, Ms Allan said the sentence would remain at 12 years.
Asked about her reaction to the three teenagers released on bail in recent days, the Prime Minister told Nine News She “was not going to interfere in a judicial process.”
Davide’s funeral will be held later this week.
She moved to Australia with her parents and older sister from Sicily in search of a better life about a decade ago.
His family says he will be cremated and his ashes will be taken to his home in Italy.