Arabic version: منح كفالة لمتهم بقيادة «يوت» بعد إصابة طفلين في ميلدورا

According to ABC News, Gol Gol auto electrician Andrew Brien, 56, has been granted bail after being accused of deliberately striking two 12-year-old boys riding a motorised pushbike in Mildura’s Langtree Mall. Brien faces seven charges, including four counts of reckless conduct endangering life, dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing injury and driving in a dangerous manner.

The Mildura Magistrates’ Court heard the boys were struck by a Ford ute about 11pm on August 6 after Brien drove from Gol Gol, NSW, to Mildura’s CBD. Police alleged he pursued the boys after his partner reported damage to her business. Detective Senior Constable Mitchell Carew told the court the two victims were not involved in any offence connected to the business or elsewhere that night.

CCTV shown in court allegedly captured the ute swerving, making a U-turn, pursuing the pushbike over a speed bump and entering the pedestrian-only mall. The prosecution said no braking or evasive manoeuvres occurred before the vehicle struck the bike, and alleged the ute was travelling at an estimated 79.2 kilometres per hour. One boy suffered a concussion and sore arm after being flung 20 metres, while the other was reported to have suffered a collapsed lung and fractures requiring surgery.

Prosecutor Raphael de Vietri described the alleged conduct as “grossly unjustified” and said Brien was “dead set on mowing those two children down”. Defence lawyer Paul Smallwood acknowledged the driving was “outrageous” and the matter extremely serious, while arguing Brien had no prior convictions and a trial was unlikely before 2028. Magistrate Patrick Southey granted bail, citing the likely delay, Brien’s lack of prior trouble and that he was not considered a flight risk. Bail conditions bar him from driving and require a 9pm curfew. He is due to return for a committal mention on December 2.