A 42-year-old Canberra man remains in hospital after allegedly attempting to steal an ATM from a hotel in Tarago, New South Wales, before crashing his vehicle. The man appeared via video link from Canberra Hospital in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, June 26. He has not been formally named as he has yet to face charges.
Alleged burglary and pursuit
NSW police allege the man and a 38-year-old accomplice broke into the Loaded Dog Hotel in Tarago on Wednesday, using a car and straps to try to rip an ATM from its footings. When unsuccessful, they fled in a white car. About 9:40 am the same day, police were called to a home on Braidwood Road, Tirrannaville, following reports of a second break and enter. Officers located the white vehicle leaving the scene and initiated a pursuit, which continued south along Braidwood Road but was terminated due to safety concerns.
Crash and hospitalisation
Police said the men rolled the vehicle on Foxes Elbow Road, Warri, between Bungendore and Braidwood, about 10 am. Both were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Canberra Hospital under police guard. The 38-year-old man was released from hospital on Thursday, extradited to NSW, and taken to Queanbeyan Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of specially aggravated enter dwelling with intent. He did not apply for bail, which was formally refused.
Court proceedings
In the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, the prosecutor noted an application to extradite the 42-year-old to NSW. However, his Legal Aid duty lawyer, Eimear Silk, informed the court that the man had just undergone significant surgery, including a procedure to his spine. The prosecutor proposed adjourning the extradition proceedings until Friday, July 3, as the man was expected to remain in hospital for at least the next week. Magistrate Glenn Theakston allowed the adjournment, granting the man bail to remain at the hospital until discharge. He will then be required to appear before the ACT Magistrates Court to face the extradition application.
