‘No way’: Ex-AFL star’s big court win

A former AFL star has efficiently fought to have allegations he was concerned in a violent automotive chase thrown out of court docket.

Daniel Connors, 35, returned earlier than the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for a committal listening to to check whether or not the case towards him may safe a responsible verdict.

Mr Connors, who performed 29 video games with the Richmond Tigers over 5 years, was arrested in January after an alleged automotive chase throughout Melbourne’s interior suburbs on Christmas Eve final yr.

Prosecutors allege he was captured on CCTV “showing off” a firearm stashed within the waistband of his pants whereas in an house constructing’s elevator between 1 and 2am on December 24.

Five-and-a-half hours later, gang crime squad Detective Senior Constable Nick Duggan instructed the court docket a automotive chase allegedly started after a person was assaulted in Footscray.

Constable Duggan stated two males allegedly fled in a Volkswagen Passat and have been pursued by 4 others, together with Mr Connors, in a stolen Toyota RAV4 by way of the Moonee Ponds, Essendon and Coburg areas.

Mr Conners, the court docket was instructed, had allegedly arrived in Footscray with the 2 males from the Volkswagen earlier than leaving within the Toyota.

A lot of pictures have been allegedly fired from the Toyota throughout the chase earlier than the car crashed into one other motorist about 7.30am.

Mr Connors, who was allegedly seated within the rear of the Toyota, isn’t accused of firing the pictures.

Instead, prosecutors argued he “encouraged” or was “complicit” with the alleged shooter.

Mr Connors’ barrister Sam Tovey known as on Justice of the Peace Brett Sonett to throw out the fees, saying the case relied “heavily” on CCTV footage.

He instructed the court docket there was little proof to show the early morning CCTV confirmed a gun in his consumer’s pants, arguing it may have been a “toy, a bottle of alcohol or some other item”.

He labelled allegations Mr Connors inspired the alleged taking pictures as “speculation”.

“The prosecution would need to prove Connors has encouraged specifically those offences,” Mr Tovey stated.

“There is just no way, in my submission, that beyond conjecture or a leap of faith or logic that it meets the test.”

Mr Sonnet agreed, discharging 4 costs towards Mr Connors regarding the alleged automotive chase and saying he was not glad there was proof that might safe a conviction.

But he ordered the three remaining costs of possessing a firearm, theft of a motorized vehicle and committing an indictable offence whereas on bail to proceed.

The case will return to court docket later this month for a contest point out.