Court told hit-run accused came back twice but didn't get out and help
An emotionally charged courtroom has heard harrowing details of a Geelong man’s final moments after he was struck down and left for dead by an alleged hit-run driver just days before Christmas.
James Travers, a 32-year-old known affectionately as Jimmy, was hit by a white Mercedes van as he crossed Yarra Street in the city’s south shortly after 3am on Saturday.
The alleged driver, 27-year-old Jamie Neskovski, appeared before a packed Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday flanked by three security officers.
The court was told that after Mr Neskovski's van struck Mr Travers he returned to the scene twice and sat in the vehicle with his headlights shining on the dead man. Police say at no point did he get out of the van to help.
Detective Senior Constable Ben Oliver told the court the entire scene was captured by nearby CCTV cameras.
‘‘The deceased commenced crossing in a west to east direction across Yarra Street. He was struck by the left side front of the accused’s vehicle,’’ he said.
‘‘It propelled the deceased into an eastern side gutter.
‘‘[The accused] applied the brakes immediately after the impact but continued to drive off.’’
The court heard Mr Neskovski returned to the scene two minutes after the collision and stopped before shining his headlights on Mr Travers as he lay in the gutter unconscious.
He then did a U-turn and pulled up nearby with his headlights off.
About 40 seconds later, police say, he drove off.
At 3.15am a passing vehicle noticed Mr Travers and stopped to begin CPR but he couldn’t be saved.
Audible sobbing and gasps could be heard from more than 20 of the victim’s friends and family as his final moments were revealed.
The court heard Mr Neskovski eventually handed himself into the Geelong police station at 7.15pm that evening where he made a no comment interview.
He later told police he was there to ‘‘clear his name’’ after friends saw his van in the news and made contact.
Mr Neskovski's lawyer said he denied knowingly hitting a person and thought a brick had been thrown at his van.
But police say they were left deeply concerned when the alleged driver showed little to no remorse during his contact with police.
Senior Constable Oliver said the CCTV showed that Mr Travers has been crossing the road for some time and was visible in the headlights of the van before he was struck.
‘‘He could be clearly seen in the CCTV crossing the road in the headlights of the approaching vehicle,’’ he said.
‘‘It was concerning to police the lack of remorse that was displayed.
‘‘Police are confident we have a strong case.’’
Mr Neskovski’s lawyer Peter Billings fought to have his client released on bail and against police accessing his client’s mobile phone, arguing the next court appearance would be at least 12 weeks away.
He said Mr Neskovski was a full-time cleaner at his father’s business that holds major corporate contracts with the likes of the Geelong Football Club and aged care homes. He also has no prior criminal history.
His father John Neskovski told the court his son was ‘‘100 per cent reliable.’’ But Magistrate Franz Holzer disagreed, and refused bail.
‘‘No calls were made to Triple-0,’’ he said.
‘‘It was a conscious decision in my view for Mr Neskovski not to render assistance.
‘‘I want to express my deepest sympathies to Mr Travers’ family regarding what has happened.’’
Mr Neskovski, from the suburb of Lovely Banks in Geelong’s north, is facing charges including dangerous driving causing death and failing to render assistance.
The case will return to court in March.