Man denies he was car chase driver

A MAN accused of switching off his Ford Falcon’ s head lights at 1 am before leading police on a nightmarish car chase says he is a victim of mistaken identity.

Johnny David Jones appeared before a Supreme Court of Tasmania jury on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to one count of dangerous driving dating back to the 2018 festive period at Bridgewater.

He claims at the time he was home asleep in bed.

Crown prosecutor Deanne Earley described a police car chase that unfolded in the early hours of December 28, saying two officers managed to catch a glimpse of the driver’s face when he drove the wrong way around around about. She said it was at that moment they also saw he was wearing a “distinctive gold necklace” and baseball cap.

One of the policemen thought he recognised the driver, but at that stage was unable to put a name to the face.

Ms Earley said the driver had reached speeds of up to 130 km/ hand lost control of his maroon Falcon, failing to stop when police in pursuit activated their lights and sirens.

She said about 2am, the same police officers attended a Bridgewater home and came across the man they thought had been driving the Falcon— still wearing a gold necklace and baseball cap.

The officers said they asked who he was but the man provided a fake name before running away on foot into bushland.

A few days later, the officers claimed, Mr Jones came into the police station over unrelated matters, still wearing the necklace and cap.

Defence lawyer Cameron Scott said the police had taken only “fleeting glances” at the driver and used “questionable processes” to identify him.

“This case is not as simple as the crown suggests ,” he said.

“It’s really about the capacity of people to be honestly and reasonably mistaken .”

He said Mr Jones “adamantly denied” he was the driver in question.

“He says he was at home asleep ,” Mr Scott said.

The trial, before judge Stephen E st court, continues.