Court told of carjacking

Robbery, beating claim

A NORLANE man allegedly took part in a carjacking in which his victim was driven to a petrol station, held at knifepoint while he withdrew cash and was then badly beaten.

Jamie Smith, 28, of Norlane was denied bail when he appeared in Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday on charges of aggravated carjacking, armed robbery and false imprisonment.

Police allege the 28-yearold and a co-accused carjacked a man on July 24 this year after the victim turned up to buy Xanax tablets from a woman who is also believed to be a coaccused.

The court heard one of Mr Smith’s co-accused allegedly approached the man — who was still in his vehicle — and asked for a lighter before reaching in and taking the keys from the car.

A Police informant said the co-accused told the victim: “Get out of the car I have a f---knife.”

The co-accused demanded money from the victim and “produced a box cutter/Stanley knife to the victim’s throat and face and flashed them in front of his eye”.

Mr Smith was standing nearby when the co-accused got into the passenger seat of the victim’s car and directed him to drive to the “APCO Service Station in North Gee- long”, the police informant said. Mr Smith then followed in his own vehicle and waited as his co-accused and the victim withdrew cash from the automatic teller machine.

“(The co-accused) directed the victim to towards a strip of shops. He parked the vehicle as directed and Smith approached . . . both males began assaulting the victim,” he said.

“As a result the victim has sustained injuries to his nose, mouth and jaw. He lost a tooth as a result of the assault.”

The court heard the victim’s wallet and other items that were in his car were stolen.

Mr Smith was denied bail and will appear before the court on November 19 for a further mention.