Former AFL footballer and draft gun Daniel Connors has been launched from jail to attend rehab, after his alleged involvement in a high-speed chase during which pictures have been fired from a stolen automobile within the interior suburbs of Melbourne.
The heavily-pregnant companion of Mr Connors shed tears all through the prolonged bail utility within the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the place Mr Connors’ dad and mom additionally agreed to stump up $50,000 from their financial savings as a bail surety.
Police informed the court docket Mr Connors, who performed 29 video games for Richmond from 2007 to 2012 after he was drafted with decide 58 within the 2006 nationwide draft, attended an condominium in Drummond St, Carlton within the early hours of Christmas Eve armed with a gun within the presence of three different co-accused.
In a remand abstract, police mentioned Mr Connors lifted up his shirt, revealing a firearm tucked into his trousers whereas within the elevator on the condominium advanced shortly earlier than 2am.
Mr Connors faces seven fees, together with stealing a Rav4 allegedly used within the chase from Thornbury days earlier, firearm offences and committing an indictable offence on bail.
The court docket heard Mr Connors was allegedly within the again passenger seat of the Rav4 because it pursued a silver Volkswagen from Footscray, by means of Moonee Ponds and Essendon, earlier than crashing on Bell Street in Pascoe Vale about 7.30am, the place the occupants allegedly fled the scene.
Police allege the Volkswagen was seen with a gunshot gap in its rear window whereas travelling at excessive pace on Holmes Road in Moonee Ponds, and was later present in Coburg with seven gunshot holes.
It will not be alleged Mr Connors fired his gun on the Volkswagen.
Prosecutor Michael Roper mentioned Mr Connors was within the presence of three youthful males with “very serious” legal information, and mentioned police allege he assaulted one of many victims earlier than the pursuit started in Footscray.
“He’s part of a common purpose,” Mr Roper mentioned.
“He’s not just there for the ride,” he mentioned.
Detective Senior Constable Joe Halloran, from Victoria Police’s Gang Crime Squad, informed the court docket police had not deduced a motive for the incident, however informed the court docket police suspected it was of a legal nature.
Constable Halloran mentioned the alleged offending was “extremely serious,” and informed the court docket Mr Connors was “very lucky” it didn’t end in a critical damage or demise.
The court docket heard on the time of the alleged offending, for which he was arrested on January 6 in Geelong, Mr Connors was on police bail for drug offences.
Mr Connors’ mom informed the court docket the surety she and her husband had withdrawn from their financial savings was “not how they planned to spend their retirement.”
Defence barrister Sam Tovey informed the court docket the prosecution case in opposition to Mr Connors had “serious issues,” and mentioned his involvement within the “chaotic and dynamic” incident was not clear.
Mr Tovey mentioned his consumer had proven a capability to reside a “positive and productive life,” and added there have been “people out there willing to back him”.
He mentioned there was a risk of a two-year wait earlier than Mr Connors’ allegations have been tried within the County Court.
Magistrate Belinda Franjic agreed the case in opposition to Mr Connors was not sturdy because it at present stood, and expressed concern over the delay within the testing of forensic proof, which the court docket heard was wherever between 4 to 6 months, and the period of time earlier than the matter might be tried.
Magistrate Franjic granted Mr Connors bail, which can be spent at Arrow Health’s rehab facility in Woodend, beneath strict situations.
She ordered Mr Connors to give up his passport, and mentioned he wouldn’t be allowed to go away the rehab facility until he was within the presence of a workers member.
Mr Connors will return to court docket on March 23.
