The victim of a shocking incident in Cairns CBD has described jumping through the window of an allegedly stolen car to try and get back her phone before being dragged along the road.
Melinda Telford gives a warning to all Cairns residents after she was assaulted and had her bag stolen while grocery shopping at Earlville Shopping Town. VIDEO: Brendan Radke – Cairns Post
At 9am on Thursday 21-year-old Mooroobool woman Kylie Bowie in an alleged stolen Kia Picanto with three other occupants attacked two employees of Montaj Movement on Aplin Street who were sitting on benches outside their workplace.
Montaj Movement apprentice tattoo artist Stacey identified herself as the victim and posted a video online to share her side of the story.
“At this point in time I may need some days to just recover and process all of the trauma in the events,” she said.
“Yesterday morning, while me and Angela were waiting out in front of the studio, we had our bags and items stolen from us.
Apprentice tattoo artist Stacey uploaded her account on social media detailing her experience of being dragged by a stolen car driver as she tried to retrieve her stolen handbag. Picture: Facebook.
The stolen Kia Picanto alleged to have been taken from a Mestrez Street, Earlville residence.
“Without thought, just instinct, I had run after this person to retrieve our stuff – they had jumped into a car – and I jumped into the passenger seat window to try and retrieve our stuff.
“I had then been dragged along the road.”
The car proceeded to stop and Ms Stacey was able to get away.
She revealed minor injuries on her arms in the video and said she was a “bit sore and banged up” before telling viewers to approach police if faced with a similar situation instead of taking matters into one’s own hands.
“We did end up receiving all our stuff back,” she said.
“At the end of the day its just a phone, not my life.
“I hope that everyone stays safe and respectable of each other.”
Owner of Montaj Movement Studio Mark Montaj. Picture: Brendan Radke
The owner of a tattoo studio whose employees were targeted in an emotional plea has called for organised solutions to crime amid hopes his apprentices will soon recover from the traumatic incident.
Mark Montaj of Montaj Movement tattoo studio on Aplin Street said the incident had raised “lot of emotions.”
“For us things are settling in, reality has kicked in,” he said.
“After anger, people need to heal.
“We had a great week last week and this (incident) has put a hole in the momentum.”
Mooroobool woman Ms Bowie fronted Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday and was held in custody.
Three teenagers aged 13, 15 and 17 were also denied bail and are set to appear in Cairns Children’s Court.
According to Mr Montaj, it was unfortunate how kids were organised in their crime but the response by law enforcers and lawmakers was unorganised.
He said people are often forced to fend for themselves.
“A lot has been said already, I think a lot of the people in the community, not just Cairns, are aware of the issues facing victims and what law enforcers have to face,” he said.
“People are also aware of what these troubled kids have to face.
“It’s not about who to blame but what is it going to take to bring everyone together on the same page and find a solution?”
He claimed crime victims were going through it alone and not everyone had the ability to defend themselves.
He called for better leadership and connection within the community to help victims process often traumatic crimes which he feared were becoming more of a spectacle.
While he was all for rehabilitation and better enforcement of the law, Mr Montaj expressed sadness at the impact the incident had on his employees.
“I look at my apprentices and I am so proud of them,” he said.
“They just want to get back to how things were.
“They want to rock up to work and do what they are passionate about but now there is a pause to that.”
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