NZ link in cafe-attack charges
A former New Zealand National Basketball League professional player who allegedly smashed the windows of the Lindt cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place and later broke the jaw of an officer appeared in court yesterday afternoon.
Australian police said former Wellington Saints guard Luke Martin, 34, threw rocks at 11.20pm on Tuesday (local time) through the windows of the cafe, which was the site of a siege last December in which three people died.
They then allegedly found him driving down the wrong side of a Sydney road.
Martin was born and raised in Sydney to an Australian mother and Kiwi father. He has played for teams on both sides of the Tasman, including the Wellington Saints, Manawatu Jets, and Auckland Pirates. He last played in New Zealand in 2014.
Police said he resisted arrest and assaulted an officer, causing a suspected broken jaw. Police pros- ecution argued in Sydney Local Court on Wednesday that Martin had ‘‘demonstrated an ability and willingness to endanger public safety to avoid apprehension’’.
Martin, who also played for Southland Sharks, Sydney Kings, Wollongong Hawks, and Waikato Titans, got out of the car and allegedly threw a bag at officers.
As police tried to arrest him, he allegedly broke the jaw of a constable and kicked him on the knee.
Police later charged Martin with driving dangerously, initiating a police pursuit, assaulting police occasioning actual bodily harm and resisting arrest.
He was also charged with malicious damage in relation to rocks being thrown at Martin Place earlier in the night.
Martin, who now plays semiprofessionally with Brisbane Spartans in the SEABL, was refused bail and is expected to appear before Central Local Court on Wednesday.
Australia’s Channel Nine has obtained security footage from a neighbouring business that showed a man walking through Martin Place wheeling what appeared to be a small shopping trolley, which he placed on the ground next to the cafe.
The footage then shows the man taking items – believed to be rocks – out of the bag and throwing them at the window.
He attacks the windows nine times before packing up the bag and walking away.
A number of people passing through Martin Place at the time can be seen on the footage walking away quickly. Police said they were alerted to the attack by a number of witnesses who phoned police. Those witnesses told police they thought the offender was aged in his 40s, with facial hair and tanned skin.
The cafe reopened in March, three months after the deadly siege in which two hostages, Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson, were killed, along with the gunman, Man Haron Monis.
An inquest into being held.
‘‘Any attack on that particular location is outrageous,’’ NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione told a media conference on Wednesday. ‘‘It’s certainly outrageous that anyone would choose to attack that building.’’
Police Minister Troy Grant said: ‘‘I share the commissioner’s disgust.
‘‘There is no rhyme or reason why that premises shouldn’t be considered as it is ... it’s a significant place in our nation’s history now. I’m confident police will bring that matter to an end.’’
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