Image: Nick Kyrgios
A man accused of stealing renowned tennis player Nick Kyrgios’ Tesla after allegedly threatening his mother with a gun has entered a plea of not guilty.
The accused, presently held on remand, is scheduled to return to court on July 18 for a string of charges, including aggravated robbery, furious driving, driving a stolen vehicle, and evading police, reports WAtoday.
According to a police report presented at the ACT Magistrates Court, the incident transpired on the morning of May 1. Norlaila Kyrgios, mother of the tennis star, reportedly opened the door of their Canberra residence to a man clad in black who was brandishing a long-arm rifle. The intruder demanded the keys to Nick Kyrgios’ green Tesla, a demand to which Mrs. Kyrgios complied.
However, as soon as the man was seated in the car, Mrs. Kyrgios quickly retreated into the safety of the house, securing the front door behind her. Court documents state she was deeply shaken and frightened after the encounter, expressing fear that the perpetrator might return and shoot through the door.
Jan de Bruin, the defense lawyer, affirmed in court on Tuesday morning that his 32-year-old client pleaded not guilty to all five charges.
Nick Kyrgios, leveraging the Tesla’s built-in tracking capabilities, was able to pinpoint the stolen vehicle’s location and relay this information to the police. He additionally limited the car’s speed to 80km/h through the Tesla app.
Police eventually apprehended the accused after a brief pursuit, arresting him at a residence in Ainslie. The arrest required the use of a Taser, after which the man was transported to the hospital for treatment.
The Tesla, albeit with a smashed window resulting from the police intervention, was safely returned to the Kyrgios family. In light of the incident, the family has requested additional security measures from the police.
