A teen who allegedly mowed down two cyclists with a stolen car in suburban Melbourne, leaving the men with brain and spinal injuries, has been denied bail.
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The 16-year-old boy, who can't be named for legal reasons, faced a children's court on Wednesday after spending almost a month in custody.
Police allege the boy was driving a stolen Holden Astra which struck two cyclists on Beach Road in Beaumaris on January 23.
It's alleged the boy intentionally drove at the men, knocking them off their bikes before speeding off without offering any assistance.
A video posted to social media site Snapchat allegedly shows the teen as the driver of the vehicle, with police saying his face can be seen in the car's rear view mirror.
A boy can also be heard laughing after the cyclists are struck, which police say is the accused.
One of the cyclists, 51-year-old Glenn Gibson, suffered spinal fractures and is unable to walk without crutches.
The second cyclist, a 72-year-old man, remains at an Epworth rehabilitation centre after suffering a shattered ankle, spinal fractures and a brain bleed.
Police later found the damaged Holden Astra, which had been stolen from a Preston address on January 20.
It's alleged in the days after the Beaumaris hit-run, the boy also committed an aggravated burglary and robbery.
The teen was arrested on January 31.
He was charged with offences including reckless conduct endangering life, intentionally causing serious injury and driving in a manner dangerous.
The boy's lawyer told the court it was the teen's first time in a youth justice centre and he had no prior or pending criminal charges.
Youth justice found him suitable for supervised bail and he had the support of his uncle's family and school, the lawyer said.
The prosecutor said the offending was serious as the boy had weaponised a car against two vulnerable cyclists.
He urged the magistrate to refuse bail, saying the teen was still a significant risk to the community.
The magistrate accepted the boy was young, had no priors and there was a risk he would be "contaminated" in the youth justice centre by other detainees.
But she said allegations he deliberately mowed down two cyclists, causing serious and prolonged injuries, were shocking and alarming.
The magistrate refused bail, noting the risk was too high.
The teen's co-accused, another 16-year-old boy, also faced a children's court earlier on Wednesday and was denied bail.
It's alleged the boy was in a second car following the Holden Astra that struck the cyclists.
He was also charged with other offences including attempted aggravated carjacking and theft of a motor vehicle, stemming from incidents in 2023.
Australian Associated Press
