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Rape accused teens a 'flight risk'
November 05, 2009 06:59pm
Rape accused teens a 'flight risk'
THREE teenagers charged with raping and threatening to kill two men are at risk of fleeing to Lebanon, a court has heard.
Eric Mumbler, 19, and his workmates at a demolition business, Nabil Merhi, 18, and Ahmed Yehia, 19, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today to apply for bail.
The trio - all wearing printed T-shirts and track pants - have been charged with almost 200 sexual and assault-related offences, including rape, possession of weapons and making threats to kill.
The alleged offences are said to have occurred between May and June in northwest suburban Melbourne.
Senior Constable Chris Walsh from the Sexual Crimes Squad told the court both Mr Merhi and Mr Yehia have family connections in Lebanon, and have travelled there following the alleged offences.
Mr Mumbler, who is not of Lebanese descent, has a girlfriend in Lebanon, has visited the country and intends to move there to live.
A search warrant executed in September at Mumbler's Broadmeadows home located a mobile phone containing two videos titled "007'' and "008", the court heard.
In one video, one of the alleged victims has an arm bound behind his back, his legs bound at ankles and his mouth gagged with tape.
One man, believed to be Mumbler, allegedly says: "Put the guns to his balls."
The other victim is allegedly struck with a firearm and both complainants have guns put to their heads, the court was told.
In the second video, footage allegedly shows both complainants bound and gagged on a sofa, and one is later punched by Mr Yehia a number of times.
Both are heard crying out and struggling to escape, Snr Const Walsh said.
He said the two victims were "very fearful" of the trio being released on bail and "that they will try and track them down and cause harm to them"'.
Prosecutors told the court the men posed a flight risk even if their passports are surrendered.
Lawyers for the three men deny their clients pose a risk of leaving the country, indicated by Mr Merhi and Mr Yehia's arrival back to Australia in recent months.
Mr Mumbler's lawyer told the court his client worked full-time as a caravan builder and helped to fund his mothers' heavy medication requirements for two chronic health conditions.
The hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Felicity Broughton continues tomorrow.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/crime/news/article.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=10607448
12:05PM Thursday Nov 05, 2009
MELBOURNE - Three teenagers are facing almost 200 charges collectively of raping and torturing two men.
The trio - Ahmed Yehia, Nabil Merhi and Eric Mumbler - have been charged with a raft of sexual and assault offences that allegedly took place in Melbourne's northwest during May and June 2009.
Mumbler, 19, of Broadmeadows, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday on 62 charges including sex and weapon-related assault offences and making threats to kill.
He was remanded in custody to reappear in court on January 29.
Yehia, 19, also of Broadmeadows, is facing 61 charges over sexual and weapon-related assaults, while Merhi, 18, from Glenroy, is charged with 73 offences including assault with burning matches and setting fire to clothing.
The pair is due to appear in court today when the hearing continues.
Rape accused teens a 'flight risk'
November 05, 2009 06:59pm
Rape accused teens a 'flight risk'
THREE teenagers charged with raping and threatening to kill two men are at risk of fleeing to Lebanon, a court has heard.
Eric Mumbler, 19, and his workmates at a demolition business, Nabil Merhi, 18, and Ahmed Yehia, 19, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today to apply for bail.
The trio - all wearing printed T-shirts and track pants - have been charged with almost 200 sexual and assault-related offences, including rape, possession of weapons and making threats to kill.
The alleged offences are said to have occurred between May and June in northwest suburban Melbourne.
Senior Constable Chris Walsh from the Sexual Crimes Squad told the court both Mr Merhi and Mr Yehia have family connections in Lebanon, and have travelled there following the alleged offences.
Mr Mumbler, who is not of Lebanese descent, has a girlfriend in Lebanon, has visited the country and intends to move there to live.
A search warrant executed in September at Mumbler's Broadmeadows home located a mobile phone containing two videos titled "007'' and "008", the court heard.
In one video, one of the alleged victims has an arm bound behind his back, his legs bound at ankles and his mouth gagged with tape.
One man, believed to be Mumbler, allegedly says: "Put the guns to his balls."
The other victim is allegedly struck with a firearm and both complainants have guns put to their heads, the court was told.
In the second video, footage allegedly shows both complainants bound and gagged on a sofa, and one is later punched by Mr Yehia a number of times.
Both are heard crying out and struggling to escape, Snr Const Walsh said.
He said the two victims were "very fearful" of the trio being released on bail and "that they will try and track them down and cause harm to them"'.
Prosecutors told the court the men posed a flight risk even if their passports are surrendered.
Lawyers for the three men deny their clients pose a risk of leaving the country, indicated by Mr Merhi and Mr Yehia's arrival back to Australia in recent months.
Mr Mumbler's lawyer told the court his client worked full-time as a caravan builder and helped to fund his mothers' heavy medication requirements for two chronic health conditions.
The hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Felicity Broughton continues tomorrow.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/crime/news/article.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=10607448
12:05PM Thursday Nov 05, 2009
MELBOURNE - Three teenagers are facing almost 200 charges collectively of raping and torturing two men.
The trio - Ahmed Yehia, Nabil Merhi and Eric Mumbler - have been charged with a raft of sexual and assault offences that allegedly took place in Melbourne's northwest during May and June 2009.
Mumbler, 19, of Broadmeadows, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday on 62 charges including sex and weapon-related assault offences and making threats to kill.
He was remanded in custody to reappear in court on January 29.
Yehia, 19, also of Broadmeadows, is facing 61 charges over sexual and weapon-related assaults, while Merhi, 18, from Glenroy, is charged with 73 offences including assault with burning matches and setting fire to clothing.
The pair is due to appear in court today when the hearing continues.