By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
AN ice-affected rider with a loaded pistol and more than $11,000 cash who crashed his motorbike head-on into a Hilux utility in Cardinia is facing a painful recovery behind bars.
Joshua Jarrad Freeth, 30, who appeared at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court via a prison hospital video link, had died and been resuscitated three times after the high-speed crash near the corner of Wenn and Cardinia roads about 6.10pm on 5 February.
Freeth, a disqualified driver without a motorcycle licence, had been reportedly riding erratically and speeding on Dalmore and Cardinia roads for some time before the crash, the court heard on 2 May.
The Hilux driver told police he had no time to react, watching helplessly as he saw the bike veer across a corner’s median line, lift and crash into his windscreen.
The motorbike was “destroyed” in the crash, the Hilux damaged beyond repair and Freeth was lying on the ground and requiring resuscitation by first responders.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Kerryn Steyn said the unregistered 9-millimetre Colt handgun loaded with a full magazine and the cash were found in Freeth’s jacket.
In a black bag found near the scene were 20 rounds of matching ammunition, a knife and a smashed mobile phone.
Freeth was taken in an unconscious, critical condition by ambulance air-wing to Royal Melbourne Hospital.
He remained in ICU for a further 11 days. A blood sample revealed Freeth had ice in his system.
Freeth had recently moved out of a wheelchair onto crutches but couldn’t bear any weight for long periods, the court was told.
He had been operated several times for ruptured knee tendons and broken leg bones, with a permanent metal plate in one knee.
“It will be a number of years of rehabilitation before he can walk properly again,” Freeth’s lawyer said.
The court was told Freeth had no memory of the incident nor six months prior. He could not recall why he had a gun or cash on him at the time.
“Had he injured another person or killed someone, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself,” the lawyer said.
“The accident may have changed his outlook in life. There’s a change in his likely prospects of rehabilitation as he has had extensive drug use since he was 16 without … a circuit-breaker.”
Freeth was also charged after a drug raid of his Wonthaggi home in September netted GHB, Xanax pills, $1600 cash, a prohibited butterfly knife as well as eight wrist-watches suspected as proceeds from a jewellery store theft.
Freeth initially denied the items belonged to him but later pleaded guilty to the drug possession and suspected-proceeds-of-crime charges as well as the offences relating to the crash.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen noted Freeth had been convicted of dangerous driving after falling asleep while driving ice-affected and crashing into parked cars in 2013.
Freeth was also not complying with a community corrections order at the time of the most recent crash, Mr Vandersteen said.
Freeth was fortunate to be alive, to be spared of brain or spinal injuries, to be given first-aid properly and promptly, and that an air wing got him to hospital in time, Mr Vandersteen said.
Mr Vandersteen said Freeth faced at least a year’s jail time – including his 77 days already in remand – but it would be reduced due to the accused’s self-inflicted pain and suffering from the crash.
Freeth will next appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on 11 May.
