A MAN accused of involvement in a carjacking, in which it is alleged a man was threatened with a sawn-off shotgun, has been refused bail.
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Christoper Llewellyn appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court via video link over two days, such was the length of the submissions on his bail application.
The allegations against the 32-year-old are contested, with defence lawyer Nicholas Rolfe arguing the prosecution's case is largely reliant on the evidence of the alleged victim.
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Evidence police were compiling using data from mobile phones could not indicate what happened that afternoon, Mr Rolfe said.
Police allege Mr Llewellyn and his co-accused, Aaron Burzacott, stole a car and a $1000 mobile phone from a man who was driving in Carisbrook on March 1.
Investigators allege Mr Llewellyn flagged down the Toyota Hilux, which was travelling along Baringhup Road about 5.30pm.
Police had been told the man was giving his passenger a lift to a friend's house. The passenger had directed the driver to Baringhup Road, the court heard.
Investigators allege the Hilux pulled over on the side of the road behind a Holden wagon, which they claim Mr Llewellyn was standing beside.
Police allege Mr Llewellyn then pulled the keys out of the Hilux, preventing the man from leaving.
Mr Burzacott is then alleged to have approached with a sawn-off shotgun.
The court heard the man panicked and tried to run away, but was threatened with being shot.
Police allege Mr Llewellyn grabbed the man's phone out of the Hilux and ordered him to unlock the device and use it to transfer him money.
Investigators claim the man was directed to get into a car boot after proving he had no money to transfer.
Police allege Mr Llewellyn and his co-accused threatened to drive the man four hours away so he couldn't tell anyone what had happened.
The man panicked and took off into an open paddock, the court heard.
Police claim Mr Llewellyn and Mr Burzacott left the scene in both the wagon and the Hilux.
The Hilux was found in bushland in Huntly, the court heard.
Police had yet to recover a shotgun.
Mr Rolfe questioned the victim's credibility and that of his evidence.
The lawyer said there was no forensic evidence to indicate Mr Llewellyn was in the stolen vehicle.
Mr Rolfe also disputed police's concerns his client posed a risk to the alleged victim if granted bail.
Mr Llewellyn made no contact with the man in the 14 days between the alleged incident and the day he was arrested, Mr Rolfe said.
"Significant and severe" bail conditions were proposed, combined with a court-ordered program. Mr Rolfe suggested Mr Llewellyn be bailed to live with his mother, who was prepared to offer a $2000 surety.
Police opposed the bail application, arguing Mr Llewellyn posed a "huge, unacceptable risk if released from custody." They also vouched for the strength of the prosecution's case.
Magistrate Russell Kelly believed the 32-year-old posed an unacceptable risk if bailed, and was not satisfied the exceptional circumstances needed to justify bail had been made out.
"This is a very serious statement of alleged offences," Mr Kelly said.
Mr Llewellyn was remanded to appear in court for committal proceedings in June.
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