Teen, 18, accused of ploughing BMW into cheering Newcastle Knights fans is pictured for first time: P-plate driver faces court as it’s revealed he had previously lost his licence
The teenage driver who allegedly ploughed his gold BMW into a crowd of footy fans cheering on the Newcastle Knights, injuring ten, has appeared in court and will spend next week behind bars.
NSW Police allege Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe is the red P-plate driver whose luxury car with the vanity plates ‘INDIKA’ struck the Knights fans, including critically injuring a five-year-old girl.
Wearing a UK rapper ‘Dave’s Home Cooked Food’ t-shirt, the handcuffed teenager looked overwhelmed and bewildered as he did not apply for bail and it was formally refused during a very brief hearing from Newcastle Police Station.
His lawyers also asked the judge whether a warrant could be issued for the accused to have a health assessment while in prison, which the court heard would probably include a review of his ‘mental health’.
Samarasinghe, 18, was released from hospital and taken to Newcastle police station on Saturday where he was slapped with nine offences, and his licence was suspended.
Earlier, it was revealed through court records that Samarasinghe’s licence had been previously suspended in February.
He unsuccessfully appealed against the suspension in April, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
On Sunday, Newcastle mayor Gavin Morris said on Instagram the ‘little girl’ injured in the incident has had a ‘very rough time’, but was now in a ‘stable condition’.
Teenage driver Indika Samarasinghe appeared briefly in court, handcuffed, and did not apply for bail on the nine charges
Police alleged 18-year-old Indika Samarasinghe was the driver of the red P-plated gold BMW which ploughed into the crowds of Knights fans waving off the team on Saturday
The teenage driver who allegedly ploughed his gold BMW into a crowd of footy fans cheering on the Newcastle Knights, injuring ten, has been identified as 18-year-old Indika Samarasinghe
‘Our thoughts are with her and her mother is still in hospital as well,’ Morris said.
Police charged Samarasinghe with three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, three counts of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and three counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct in charge of a motor vehicle.
Prosecutors told the bail court on Sunday that the maximum penalty for the first charge was seven years in prison.
Whilst in custody, outraged members of the community have posted on Samarasinghe’s TikTok account, decrying his alleged act.
His supporters or friends shouted down the criticism, saying people were ‘acting like he meant it… he was doing a burnout while 100s of people stood on the side of the road’.
At the time of the incident, crowds of Knights fans had been waving off the footballers in their team bus ahead of the NRL Grand Final in Newcastle, north of Sydney, when they were struck on Saturday morning.
Emergency services were called to the Newcastle Link Road roundabout on Transfield Avenue at about 9.30am following reports that a vehicle had hit people standing on the pavement after allegedly driving ‘erratically’.
Samarasinghe was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
At the time of the incident, crowds of Knights fans had been waving off the footballers in their team bus ahead of the NRL Grand Final in Newcastle, north of Sydney, when they were struck on Saturday morning
Ashleigh Gibbs, who is understood to be a relative of the child, has launched a GoFundMe to help support the child, along with her mother who was also injured in the crash.
‘A beautiful five-year-old child is currently in an induced coma after suffering serious injuries and has already required multiple operations,’ she wrote.
‘Their mum was also seriously injured and will require multiple operations and a long period of recovery.
‘Both mum and child now have a long road ahead of them, with ongoing surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation and recovery.
‘Sadly, because of the severity of their injuries, mum will not be able to work for some time, placing enormous financial pressure on the family while they focus on healing and being there for each other.’
Ms Gibbs said funds would go towards medical bills, everyday costs, travel and other unexpected expenses.
‘Our biggest hope is that this family can focus on what matters most – getting through each day, supporting their little one, and recovering together – without having to worry about how they will manage financially,’ she wrote.
A 67-year-old man was also in a critical condition but police confirmed that has been downgraded to a serious but stable condition.
Indika Samarasinghe will next appear in Newcastle Local Court on October 15.
