A young man who allegedly drove a stolen car onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge before losing control and having to be pulled from the fiery wreckage must enter pleas in a matter of weeks, a magistrate has demanded.
Christopher Walker fronted Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday wearing black jeans and a button-up white shirt, accompanied by his mother.
The 20-year-old has been charged with assault with intent to take motor vehicle, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, aggravated assault with intent to take a motor vehicle, drive furiously in a motor vehicle to cause bodily harm, and negligent driving and driving a vehicle with drugs present in his blood.
Mr Walker, who was 19 at the time, is accused of carjacking a Toyota Kluger in the Sydney CBD as the owner was changing a tyre, allegedly snatching the keys off him on March 11, 2022.
Moments later he drove onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge before the car was allegedly caught on dashcam footage racing across the street at high speeds before slamming into traffic.
Traffic came to a standstill when Mr Walker had to be pulled from the wreckage moments after he allegedly collided head-on with a HiAce van and an SUV.
The Kluger flipped onto its roof and burst into flames; however, bystanders were able to rescue drivers in all three cars.
Police released a picture of Mr Walker’s distinctive hand tattoo before tracking him down in hospital and arresting him.
He was in custody on remand for six months and six days before he was released into rehab for drugs and alcohol in September last year.
A DPP prosecutor told the court on Thursday that there had been “back and forth” in respect to resolving the matter.
Magistrate Susan Horan said the matter had been unresolved for too long, demanding pleas be entered on the next appearance.
“It’s been in court since March 2022, it’s past the first anniversary,” Ms Horan said.
“Three weeks on 13 July, it must proceed.”
At Mr Walker’s Supreme Court bail application in September, defence lawyer Ivan Vizintin conceded the prosecution case was strong and his client could be facing full-time imprisonment if he were to be convicted.
Mr Vizintin told the court there were several matters that could be considered for an alternative sentence, including his young age, general deterrence and his lack of criminal record.
“There was no planning involved, it was an unfortunate incident,” he told the court.
Justice Stephen Campbell told the court that Mr Walker was allegedly under the influence of “illicit drugs” at the time of the incident.
“His offending was highly opportunistic with the most unfortunate circumstances, particularly for the driver of the HiAce,” he said at the time.