Catani crash accused walks free on bail
A truck driver accused of running a stop sign and causing a crash that killed four members of the same family has been freed on bail.
Police had opposed 27-year-old Jobandeep Gill's bail application, arguing he will attempt to leave Australia in a similar way to Puneet Puneet, who fled to India in 2009 while awaiting sentence for a drunken crash that killed a man and seriously injured another.
In court, Acting Detective Sergeant Rodney Collins said Gill could try to leave Australia on his brother's passport.
But Chief Magistrate Peter Lauritsen granted Gill bail yesterday, saying there was no evidence the 27-year-old was a flight risk.
Gill, who faces four counts of culpable driving, left Melbourne's remand centre this afternoon, refusing to comment on the case.
Stephen Beckett, 37, his wife Jade, 33, and two of their three children Ella, six, and William, two, were killed when their sedan hit a truck at a Catani intersection last Friday.
Their nine-year-old son Sam survived the crash and was taken to the Royal Childrens Hospital with moderate injuries.
Det Sgt Collins said Gill, of Noble Park, had earlier lost the maximum 12 demerit points but had been granted an option notice, which allowed him to keep his licence for the following year.
He alleged Gill ran a stop sign before the Becketts' car hit his truck, with the two vehicles rolling and catching fire 35 metres from the point of collision.
Gill told police at the scene that he stopped at the stop sign but his gearbox jammed and he was propelled forward, Det Sgt Collins said.
But Det Sgt Collins called the explanation "extremely implausible", and said the stop sign was clearly visible and driving conditions were excellent.
He said police would examine mobile phone records to see whether Gill was distracted at the time of the crash.
Gill was bailed on a $15,000 surety and is due to return to court in June.