A shirtless man allegedly plunged a large garden stake through a driver’s open window, narrowly missing his head, during a road rage attack outside a Melbourne school, a court has been told.
Shane Couch, 20, allegedly threw punches at the driver, kicked his vehicle and triggered a three car pileup, just as students were leaving Melton Secondary College on Tuesday afternoon.
The alleged victim had just collected his son from school when he saw the accused standing in the middle of the road as he attempted a U-turn, prosecutors told the Sunshine Magistrate Court on Wednesday.
The alleged victim swerved to avoid hitting Mr Couch, but noticed in his rearview mirror he was removing his shirt and coming towards him.
He tried to avoid him by reversing past and turning down a street, but Mr Couch allegedly gave chase, throwing punches through his open car window.
Prosecutors said when the alleged victim returned to the intersection and got stuck in heavy traffic, he heard a voice yell: “Look out, he’s coming back”.
The accused allegedly picked up a 1.6 metre garden stake and speared it back anxjmtzywd forth through the driver’s window, narrowly missing his head.
Police said if it had connected, the driver could have been seriously hurt.
Prosecutors told the court the driver was hit on the side of the ribs, and his son on the leg.
He tried to reverse, but hit the vehicle behind him, triggering a domino-like collision with three vehicles.
Police allege the driver then grabbed the stake and tried to stop Mr Couch assaulting him further with it.
But Mr Couch then punched the alleged victim through the window as he and his son held onto the stake, police alleged.
He allegedly opened and closed the victim’s door and kicked at the driver’s side, causing minor damage.
The court heard the driver eventually exited his Nissan ute and allegedly exchanged blows with Mr Couch, with the fight spilling out onto the main road.
As the accused tried to jump away, police allege he broke the side mirror of a passing motorist and the punch-on continued until he fell over and fled.
The incident, captured on video, occurred on a busy street outside a school during pick up time in front of several onlookers.
Couch, of Melton, was arrested and charged with multiple offences, including reckless conduct endangering life, affray and assault with a weapon.
Police opposed his bail, arguing he posed an unacceptable risk to public safety, committing further crimes and failing to appear.
The court heard he was already on a community corrections order for arson and had outstanding matters for allegedly throwing hot liquid on prison officers through a trapdoor while on remand.
Couch, who represented himself, said he did not pose a risk to the community and was taking his medication.
He said he had an intellectual disability and received a pension to support himself.
But Magistrate Tom Barrett said Mr Couch failed to show compelling reasons for his release and deemed him an unacceptable risk to the community.
Mr Couch was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on March 28.
