By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A MAN accused of several violent attacks was released on bail and transported in a private vehicle for a mental health assessment due to a police resources shortage.
At a Dandenong Magistrates’ Court bail hearing on Monday, Paulo Alexander Martins faced charges of assault, threatening to kill his landlord with a brick and recklessly causing injury to his partner over three incidents this year.
A Salvation Army officer in the public gallery and Martins’ partner volunteered to take Martins to Dandenong Hospital’s emergency department for assessment.
Magistrate Greg Connellan said the transport was not “ideal” security but granted Martins bail on the basis that he would be unable to access timely treatment in custody.
“He does urgently need to be assessed as to his mental health status. [Transportation] won’t be done by Victoria Police due to the resources.
“That’s not a criticism. That’s just the situation they face,” Mr Connellan said.
“While this situation is not ideal, I’m satisfied that he has shown cause [for bail].”
Mr Connellan ordered Martins or his lawyer to report back within three hours whether he had been admitted to hospital or not.
The court was told that on 6 November, Martins, then a resident at a Noble Park boarding house, allegedly placed a brick against his visiting landlord’s head and said: “I will kill you”.
He was also accused of swearing at the landlord’s wife, smashing two of her car’s windows with the brick.
He returned to the property and was re-arrested on 19 and 21 November for breaching a bail condition of not returning within 200 metres of the boarding house.
First Constable Alexander Branting, who attended the scene on the latter occasion, used capsicum spray to subdue Martins.
“I became fearful of imminent assault,” First Cons Branting said. “The accused [later] said he was off his medication.”
As he awaited his bail hearing, Martins “apparently had a physical confrontation in the cells with another prisoner”.
Martins is also facing charges of assault and recklessly causing injury to his partner in March. As a condition of his earlier bail, he had been required to reside at her home.
First Cons Branting said boarding house residents were “scared” of Martins, and Martins’ partner was “reluctant to have him” at her home.
“She was of the strong belief that the accused has mental health issues and doesn’t want him at the house,” he said.
“He poses an unacceptable risk to the community. He shows blatant disregard for authority.”
Martins’ defence lawyer said the boarding house was his only place of residence and the site of his belongings.
