Former AFL WAG Bec Judd has unleashed in another scathing attack about Victoria’s youth crime laws after a teen accused of killing a motorcyclist by running a red light in an allegedly stolen car was again allowed to walk free, despite breaching multiple bail conditions.
The teen, 17 who faces charges of culpable driving and dangerous driving causing the death of Davide Pollina, 19, in the Melbourne suburb of Preston in August, was again granted bail last week, despite a string of charges after he was allegedly caught back behind the wheel.
Police allege the unlicensed driver was pulled over while driving his girlfriend’s car at 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 teen was also banned from driving and allegedly breached a 10pm-6am curfew which was part of his bail conditions, the Herald Sun reported.
Despite multiple bail breaches, the teen was again granted bail by a Children’s Court magistrate 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 from her family Christmas vacation in Japan on Sunday to express her outrage that the teen granted bail.
‘Anyone else feeling that we are living 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 the out-of-control youth crime in Victoria
Bec Judd weighed in after the teen accused of killing a young motorcyclist was bailed again on Thursday
The teen’s lawyer told the court at Thursday’s hearing that that his client had driven his three mates to a 7-Eleven to ‘get a drink’.
The lawyer did not explain why there was a machete inside the vehicle.
Despite the teen also failing to respond to police knocks at his home during his nightly curfew, the court again granted him bail.
It was the second attempt to keep the youth locked up since September, where police alleged he was skipping the school.
At last week’s hearing the prosecution argued the boy was a danger to the public because of his continued unlicensed driving and lack of parental control.
The teen was originally granted bail in August after he alleged ploughed a stolen BMW into Mr Pollina, who was riding his bike home.
A motorcyclist was killed in the inner north east Melbourne suburb of Preston on August 11 after a 17-year-old 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 CPR was given to Mr Pollina by police, who were tracking the BMW.
After the Children’s Court originally granted the alleged driver bail in August, the Pollina family told Nine News expressed their disappointment amid fears the teen would reoffend.
Police allege the 17-year-old was one of three teens, the others being 16, who stole a BMW and a Mazda from a home in Pascoe Vale South before the collision.
All three involved in the alleged two-car theft have since been granted bail.
Figures released this week showed the youth crime rate in Victoria has skyrocketed to its highest level since 2009.
There were more than half a million (578,762) offences recorded in the 12-month period to September, a jump of 13.4 per cent.
In August, the Victorian parliament voted to strengthen bail laws for young offenders.
The amended legislation however still raised the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12.
Under former premier Daniel Andrews, the government pledged in 2023 to lift the age to 14 by 2027, with exceptions for serious offences such as murder and terrorism.
But following a series of prominent incidents involving youth offenders, including two fatal car crashes in the past two months, Premier Jacinta Allan said it would remain at 12 years.
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