An alleged gunman accused of threatening the mother of Nick Kyrgios before stealing the Australian tennis star's luxury car has been refused bail.
A court has heard details of how Kyrgios used his car's technology to help police track and trap the alleged robber, following a pursuit through suburban Canberra on Monday.
The 32-year-old suspect, from Canberra's north, appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday facing five charges, including aggravated armed robbery, failure to stop for police and driving while suspended.
Court documents allege that, about 8:30am on Monday, he pointed a long-barrelled gun at Norlaila Kyrgios, Nick's mother.
The man allegedly demanded she give him the keys to a green Tesla.
According to a police statement, the man, still pointing the gun at Ms Kyrgios, asked her how to drive the vehicle, but she told him she did not know.
When he opened the door and sat in the driver's seat, Ms Kyrgios said she fled and screamed for help.
Court hears of dangerous pursuit through suburbs
The documents say Nick Kyrgios, who was nearby, called police and, using an app on his phone, helped them track his Tesla's location.
Police say they found the vehicle shortly afterwards and officers approached it with their guns drawn.
However, the driver allegedly sped off.
Officers then chased the car through a nearby suburb and say they reached a speed of 90kph in a 50kph zone in an attempt to catch it.
However, police say they broke off the pursuit when the Tesla entered a school zone, due to safety fears.
Court documents say Kyrgios continued to provide police with updates throughout the operation. He also remotely limited the car's speed to 80kph.
Police say officers from several stations, as well as a federal police tactical response unit, established a cordon in the suburb of Ainslie, where the driver had headed.
The statement says officers blocked the car's approach and removed him from the vehicle — about 30 minutes after the alleged offence began.
According to police, officers placed the man on the ground but he allegedly continued to resist efforts to arrest and handcuff him. Police also tasered him.
The court heard he suffered several injuries and was taken to Canberra Hospital.
He has been denied bail.
Story By : Peter Lusted
Original Story link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-02/nick-kyrgios-tesla-stolen-at-gunpoint-in-canberra/102292144
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