The prosecutor argued the case against Stepanyan was strengthened by surveillance device material and phone records which placed him “in the vicinity of the crime and in contact with co-accused persons”, while CCTV placed the “vehicle in question in that same vicinity”.
He said there was also a “witness to the multiple offenders running away from the scene”.
The prosecutor said Stepanyan was on conditional bail for other serious violence offences, and had been the subject of multiple warrants in the past. As he opposed bail, he said the concerns included Stepanyan committing further crimes, endangering safety or failing to appear in court.
Legal Aid lawyer Alice Nguyen said it was conceded that Stepanyan, who appeared via video link, was facing “very serious allegations”.
But she said the alleged arson occurred in November 2022, and Stepanyan had been on strict bail since September 2023 over his other charges without a breach, including under effective house arrest and not being able to leave home without his parents to report daily to police.
She said his employment as a truck driver had ceased as a result.
Nguyen said similarly stringent conditions could be imposed in his latest case to mitigate any risks, that he was offering a $500 surety, and that if he does defend the matter, he would be spending months waiting in custody before it was finalised. She noted Stepanyan had physical ailments including a broken collarbone.
Magistrate Catherine Follent said, according to the facts alleged by police, Stepanyan “is a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang” and his “criminal associates do have a bearing” on his application for release.
She said Stepanyan had a history of violence and the case against him regarding the fire was “reasonably strong”.
“Noting that the prosecution will be relying on identification evidence, CCTV evidence, telecommunications evidence, which links to the relevant vehicle, to the route to and from the location,” she said.
Follent said a custodial penalty of some sort was inevitable if Stepanyan was found guilty.
She refused bail due to the unacceptable risks he presented, and adjourned his case to Waverley Local Court next Wednesday.
The Herald previously reported that Shanks was receiving ongoing death threats, forcing him to take down one of his videos. In a statement to his website in February this year, Shank said, “You win, we’re taking down the video.
“Congratulations. You run this city.”
Shanks did not name any person or group in the statement.
The controversial YouTuber has continued to post videos in recent months, his latest video criticising a Sky News documentary posted three days ago and netting more than 300,000 views. His channel has more than 1.3 million subscribers.
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