OFF THE WIRE
theaustralian.com.au
Police officers stand guard outside Scott Orrock's tattoo parlour in Sydney's Newtown. Picture Brad Hunter Source: The Daily Telegraph
A NSW Supreme Court judge has accused prosecutors of trying to link a former bikie's alleged fire attack on a police van to recent gang-related shootings in Sydney without any evidence.
Scott Allen Orrock, 47, has been charged with threatening to torch a police paddy wagon parked outside his Newtown tattoo parlour in Sydney's inner west in the early hours of April 20, and then setting fire to the vehicle.Mr Orrock was granted bail by local court magistrate Julie Huber on April 26, but the Director of Public Prosecutions lodged a bail review the next day in the NSW Supreme Court.
The DPP's application came after Premier Barry O'Farrell criticised the bail decision as sending the wrong message at a time when police were cracking down on violence linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Mr Orrock is said to be a former boss of the Nomads bike gang and currently an associate of the Hells Angels.
At a bail review hearing today, the prosecution argued Mr Orrock's bail should be revoked because he was a “volatile and aggressive individual” and a threat to the community.
Crown prosecutor Jose Crespo said Mr Orrock had an extensive criminal record dating back to 1981, including convictions on firearms offences.
He described the alleged torching of the police van as a “deliberate and premeditated and brazen act which challenged the authority of the police”.
He also claimed the offence had to be viewed in the context of the recent “series of shootings in public spaces” across Sydney.
But Justice Peter Garling rejected that argument, accusing the prosecution of “grandstanding” by trying to link Mr Orrock to a recent bikie war between the Nomads and Hells Angels.
He said there was no evidence linking Mr Orrock to any recent shootings in Sydney.
“This is not trial by speculation and suspicion,” Justice Garling said.
Counsel for Orrock, Deone Provera, said his client should remain on bail because he did not pose a threat to the community and was not a flight risk.
He rejected the claim that the alleged offence “demonstrated contempt for authority”, noting that Mr Orrock had never been convicted of any offence against police.
Justice Garling reserved his judgment until May 8.
AAP
