Road chase sequel
TWO men involved in a police pursuit at speeds up to 200kmh while carrying a sawn-off shotgun and drugs in a stolen car were refused bail at Lismore Local Court yesterday.
In an act echoing the 'dumb and dumber' robbery by two Northern Rivers men of a bank at Colorado in 2005, police alleged the passenger, 22-year-old Benjamin Farnell from Geebung in Queensland filmed and commentated on the pursuit from Woodburn to Ballina on Tuesday and filmed the speedo showing the high speeds they were travelling at on his mobile phone.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Greg Huxtable told the court during the pursuit the car travelled 61 kilometres in 18 min- utes at an average speed of 200kmh.
He said the men swapped the number plates on the car in Coffs Harbour in an attempt to elude police.
The court heard the driver Jarram Power, 20, of Brisbane was allegedly a friend of the man charged with Monday's carjacking and stabbing at Sydney airport.
Dressed in the same black T-shirt and blue jeans he was arrested in, Power faced court on 10 charges including not stopping in a police pursuit, possessing an illegal firearm in a public place and possession of prohibited drugs.
He did not apply for bail which was formally refused by relieving registrar Brett Newberry.
Richmond Local Area Command crime manager Detective Inspector Greg Moore said police were investigating claims Power travelled with the man charged with the stabbing in the stolen maroon Ford XR6 sedan on Monday.
Sgt Huxtable told the court an arrest warrant had been issued in Queensland for Farnell for breaching parole conditions.
Duty solicitor Phillip Crick applied for bail on Farnell's behalf but it was refused.
Both of the men's matters were adjourned until Monday at Lismore Local court.
