26-year-old Indian citizen Samandeep Singh has been granted bail by Deputy Chief Magistrate Jelena Popovic today in Melbourne.
Singh, a truck driver, has been charged with culpable driving causing death and dangerous driving, after he allegedly drove into and killed D’Arne De Leo, a police officer on January 12th in Wantirna, Melbourne.
Police alleged in the court that Singh’s truck failed to stop at a red light in Melbourne’s south-east, hitting the motorbike in Wantirna, and killing the rider of the motorbike, a policewoman.
Police also told the court that Mr Singh was not speeding, drunk or under the effects of drug while driving. Nor was he using a mobile phone when his truck hit the motorbike.
The investigators told the court that the truck’s brakes had failed and Mr Singh knew about it for upto six weeks but chose to ignore the problem instead of fixing it.
The Melbourne Magistrate’s Court heard that Mr Singh who is a sub-contractor was aware of the faulty brakes and even tried to signal to Ms De Leo to get out of his way on the highway but could not avoid the deadly crash.
After knowing details of the case, Magistrate Ms Popovic asked whether Mr Singh should be facing a lesser charge of dangerous driving instead of culpable driving causing death.
While hearing his bail application, Police told the court that he should not be let out as he was an Indian citizen holding an Indian passport with no family, except a fiancée, in Melbourne and might not re-appear in court.
But Ms Popovic said he had a right to bail.
Keeping Mr Singh’s age, lack of prior history of any crime in mind and his mental health, he was granted bail with the conditions that he must report to police daily and not drive a vehicle.
Earlier this month, Samandeep’s lawyer Chen Yang had told the court that his client was assessed as being “suicidal”.
His lawyer, Chen Yang said a forensic medical officer had diagnosed his client as having “suicidal ideation” after his arrest.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Lawrence said Singh had expressed "considerable remorse" and told officers to "just let me go, I'll sort it out", which Det Sgt Lawrence said referred to the possibility he might end his life.
Mr Singh has been asked to surrender his passport and will not be allowed to leave Victoria.
Mr Singh will now appear in court in May.
