YOUNG Mildura man Tyson Mitchell will stand trial after a teenage boy’s motorbike was allegedly stolen at knifepoint at Kings Billabong.
Three 16-year-old boys were cross-examined over the alleged incident during a committal hearing before Mildura Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The court was told that on September 17 last year the three friends had stopped at Green Point camping area during a motorbike ride when a blue car pulled up beside them.
They said the car left and, while the trio were on their way to Psyche Pumps, they pulled over to the side of the road when one of the bikes stalled.
The teenagers told the court the same car, containing two men and two women, again stopped beside them.
One of the men got out holding a knife and threatened to stab one of the boys if he did not hand over his motorbike, which he did.
While the man tried to start the motorbike, the victim ran towards an approaching car for help.
The court heard the alleged offender did not get the bike started and abandoned it, leaving the scene in the blue car.
Mr Mitchell’s counsel said that during the cross-examinations there were a number of inconsistencies, including which man got out of which door of the car, who was driving and who the threat came from.
However Magistrate Michael Coghlan said while there may have been differing versions from the teenagers, there was no dispute that Mr Mitchell played some role in what happened.
Mr Mitchell has spent almost five months on remand following his arrest on September 18.
On Friday he pleaded not guilty to the charges and will next appear before the County Court on March 9 for a directions hearing.
