Supporters of jailed reckless driver Tristen Davis thrown out of Broome courthouse for abusing witness

There were chaotic scenes at Broome Courthouse on Monday as supporters of a man jailed for leading police on a reckless car chase hurled abuse at a witness before being escorted out by security. Tristen Steven Davis appeared in Broome Magistrates Court on September 7, where he stood trial over seven charges including reckless driving, displaying false plates, failing to possess a valid driver’s licence, driving an unlicensed vehicle and being in possession of methamphetamine. On January 29 at about 11am, Davis was driving a Holden Commodore out of the carpark at the Moonlight Bay Suites when he was identified by police, who were driving an unmarked Toyota Prado while monitoring a suspicious vehicle in the carpark for an unrelated matter. WA Police first class constable Benjamin Perry was on patrol with senior constable Bradley Lynn and said he immediately recognised Davis, who, in a “moment of panic”, accelerated away at speed so severely he bounced off the curb then sped off down Carnarvon Street. While travelling down Carnarvon Street, the officers activated their lights and sirens but Davis did not stop, instead cutting the corner near Matso’s Broome Brewery onto Hamersley Street and narrowly avoiding a collision with an oncoming vehicle. While on Hamersley Street, Davis overtook three vehicles at speed, causing them to come to a stop in their lanes, and drove on the wrong side of the road which caused one car to swerve off the road to avoid being hit. Police deactivated their lights and sirens due to the recklessness of Davis’ driving and continued to pursue his vehicle down Guy Street, Herbert Street and Saville Street, before Davis pulled into a unit complex and dashed on foot. Mr Perry told the court he chased Davis on foot and apprehended him at the back fence of the complex with another male. When asked why he failed to stop, Davis said he did not have a licence. During Mr Lynn’s testimony, a woman who had attended the trial to support Davis stood up at the back of court and screamed “you are a liar.” The woman was given an official warning by security, but after she failed to be quiet and sighed loudly, police prosecutor Carey Owen demanded she be sent out of the trial. Defence lawyer Jenna Hampton pointed out Mr Perry did not file his incident report until August, more than six months after the incident occurred, as well as noting neither officers were wearing body cameras and were relying solely on their memories as evidence. Magistrate Gavin Maclean sentenced Davis to eight months in prison, suspended him from driving for more than three years and fined him $50.