An Uber driver accused of sexually assaulting women inside his car had ‘ritualistic sexual fantasies’ about asleep and drunken women, a court has heard.
An Uber driver accused of sexually assaulting women inside his car had ‘ritualistic sexual fantasies’ about sleeping and drunken women, a court has heard.
Sharjeel Mirza, 37, of Bundoora – 16kms north of Melbourne – remained caged on Friday after an unsuccessful attempt at bail in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
His barrister, Lucien Richter, had argued the DNA extracted from two victims could have got there because of the short skirts they wore while sitting in his car.
Sharjeel Mirza, 37, of Bundoora, allegedly kept an Uber sign on his windscreen despite being suspended from the company for bad behaviour
Detective Senior Constable Erin Clark leaves the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after successfully keeping an alleged rapist behind bars
Lucien Richter suggested DNA evidence being used by police against his client may not be his
‘I find it difficult to believe,’ Detective Senior Constable Erin Clark said.
Mr Richter is the son of prominent queen’s counsel, Robert Richter, who represented Cardinal George Pell during his fight against child rape allegations.
His client faces charges of rape and attempted rape and assorted sexual assault charges.
Earlier, the court heard Mirza had been dumped from Uber and its rival Ola over complaints he was a sex pest long before he was eventually charged.
Still displaying an Uber sign on his car a year after he was stood down, the court heard Mirza allegedly trawled the streets at night looking for vulnerable prey.
The 37-year old Pakistani-born father of two had come to Australia on a student visa, which had expired in August 2017.
Senior Constable Clark told the court Mirza targetted a woman he saw drunk and vomiting outside a CBD nightclub early last year and offered to drive her home.
She later told police he lured her into his 2016 Corolla with an offer of a bottle of water and to clean up her vomit.
The court heard Mirza asked for $70 cash supposedly because she was too drunk and no-one else would collect her.
Once alone, the woman claimed Mirza pounced, raping her inside his locked vehicle.
When he was done, he dropped her off at home, the woman told police.
She called the police and forensic swabs were taken to collect DNA, which would later indicate Mirza was the culprit, the court heard.
He denied the allegations and police were forced to cut him loose while they awaited test results.
Months later, police claim Mirza struck again, this time against another drunk woman he had picked-up on trendy Brunswick Street.
The court heard CCTV from a nearby pub showed his victim stumbling over as she hopelessly tried to call for a ride.
Sharjeel Mirza got a job with OLA after Uber suspended him over alleged complaints he had acted inappropriately to women
Detective Senior Constable Erin Clark said the only thing that would stop Mirza offending was jail
Again, Mirza showed up in his Corolla and again the woman claimed she was sexually assaulted inside of it, the court heard.
When she woke the next day she too went to police where DNA was taken from the inside of her underwear.
The results were a near perfect match, police alleged.
This time Mirza was arrested and his computer forensically searched.
Senior Constable Clark described a disturbing cache of pornography, which revolved around sleeping and drunk women.
The court heard Mirza’s previous bosses had been warned about his alleged bad behaviour, with several complaints made against him in 2018 by various women.
Mirza allegedly preyed upon drunk and vulnerable women who were just trying to get home after a night out in Melbourne
Police had feared that if Mirza was released on bail there was a chance he could be granted a bridging visa that would allow him back into the community.
Mr Richter said his client hoped to remain in Australia with his family.
He told the court Mirza’s wife, who supported him in court, could put up a $10,000 surety if he was released.
Senior Constable Clark warned nothing would stop Mirza from re-offending other than jail.
Mr Richter argued the police case against his client was not ‘overly strong’ and questioned the method of DNA testing done on the victims’ samples.
He said previous complaints made to ride sharing companies could not be used in any trial against his client and suggested his alleged victims could struggle to convince a jury because they were so drunk.
‘That’s no criticism either,’ he said of one of Mirza’s alleged victim’s.
‘She was very, very drunk.’
Mirza, who appeared in court via video link, was remanded in custody until his next appearance.
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