Kidnap nurse tells of threats
A GOLD Coast nurse lay terrified in the boot of his own car as his kidnappers discussed how they were going to “bash the s***” out of him, police will allege.
“Don’t (expletive) try and escape, give me your (expletive) phone,” Joe Brooker, a nurse at Pindara Private Hospital, was allegedly told.
The 25-year-old was allegedly abducted, stabbed and robbed by four men as he was walking to his car while at work early last Friday.
Harry Phillips-Bell, 17, has been charged and denied bail for the charge.
Two 18-year-old men are helping police with inquiries. A 16-year-old boy who is in hospital with neck injuries is also assisting police.
Police will allege Mr Brooker was threatened with a gun and knife before being bundled into the boot of his silver Toyota Echo about 3am.
The men are accused of taking him to an ATM on Parklands Drive where he was forced to hand over $500.
He was then put back in the boot, court documents allege.
It was then three of the group allegedly discussed what to do with Mr Brooker – one wanted to “bash the s***” out of him while another said he should be “ditched” in a secluded area. But the boot of the car became stuck.
Police will allege one of the men threatened Mr Brooker while he was trapped in the boot.
“If you go to the (expletive) we will come to your house and sort you out,” he allegedly said. “We’ve got your address, it’s on your (expletive) cards.”
It was then the group allegedly released the handbrake on the car while Mr Brooker was still trapped in the boot.
The car rolled down a hill and crashed into a fence in Kurrambee Ave, Ashmore.
One of the four men has been charged and denied bail for the alleged abduction and robbery of Mr Brooker.
Phillips-Bell, 17, appeared briefly in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of armed robbery and one count each of torture and deprivation of liberty.
Defence lawyer Campbell MacCallum, of Moloney MacCallum, said Phillips-Bell did not hold the knife or gun.
“It would seem upon his version of events that he was picked up at some stage and that he may have witnessed some of the incidents and may have been involved to some extent,” he said outside court.
“The allegations are that some other co-offenders were involved in taking the handbrake off.”
Mr MacCallum said Phillips-Bell, who is due to appear in court again on December 21, was likely to apply for Supreme Court bail in coming weeks.