Teenager refused bail over alleged Newcastle crowd crash
An 18-year-old has been refused bail after allegedly driving into a crowd of Newcastle Knights fans and injuring 10 people. The accused faces multiple charges involving dangerous and negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm, as well as causing bodily harm by misconduct.
An 18-year-old Sydney man has been refused bail after allegedly driving a car into a crowd of Newcastle Knights fans and injuring 10 people. Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe appeared in Newcastle Bail Court and did not apply for release. Bail was formally refused, and the court adjourned the case until later this month.
Samarasinghe has been charged with three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, three counts of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and three counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct. The source material says video showed the driver being arrested after the alleged crash. It does not provide details about the condition of those injured or explain how the incident occurred.
The court heard that the most serious charge, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years. Samarasinghe appeared with his head bowed and wearing a red, white and yellow T-shirt. The case will return to court later this month.
The allegations have not been tested at trial. The bail decision determines whether the accused is released while proceedings continue, not whether he is guilty of the charges.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.