Hitesh Guha, 36, is facing a range of charges including intentionally causing injury, relating to an incident that took place in Wyndham St, Shepparton, on March 15, 2020.
Court documents allege Guha had been drinking at the Terminus Hotel and Club Rawhide in Shepparton with friends before driving them to buy food early in the morning.
It is alleged Guha was driving on Fryers St, Shepparton, at 2.32am and was “travelling quickly” as he attempted to turn left onto Wyndham St, before he stopped close to pedestrians crossing the road.
One man is said to have yelled “piss off mate it’s a green light, let us walk”, before Guha stopped in the left-hand lane on Wyndham St and blocked oncoming traffic as he “mouthed off” at the pedestrians.
The documents allege Guha then pulled in behind a hot dog van and continued to yell at the pedestrians across the road, before they came back across the road and approached the car. It is alleged Guha attempted to exit the vehicle but could not open the door, before one of the pedestrians slapped Guha.
The prosecution alleges Guha did a U-turn while accelerating so quickly his vehicle’s wheels spun and screeched, crossing three lanes of traffic before straightening and accelerating at the victim. Guha is said to have hit the back of the victim’s legs as he attempted to walk away, causing the victim to be propelled five or six meters through the air and land on the footpath.
It is further alleged Guha continued onto Fryers St, fleeing the scene and not offering the victim any assistance.
The victim was transported to Goulburn Valley Health, where examination revealed he had a fractured skull and a brain bleed.
Court documents allege Guha texted his domestic partner “babe I have f----- up big time I am soo sorry” and “don’t be dramatic, he is not dead he has got injuries that’s all”.
Guha is also charged with contravening a bail condition by contacting a prosecution witness on August 20, 2020. Police allege he approached an employee at the Terminus — where he worked — and stated “you gave a statement against me” and “you got me into trouble, (name redacted) said nothing, he was in favour of me but you were the opposite”.
At a committal hearing in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court Office of Public Prosecutions prosecutor Yildana Hardjadibrata told the court Guha would plead guilty to the indictable charge of intentionally causing injury.
Mr Hardjadibrata withdrew a number of summary charges, leaving Guha facing charges of failing to render assistance, driving in a manner dangerous, unlicensed driving and contravening a bail condition.
Asked by Magistrate Lance Martin how he wished to plead, Guha told the court he pleaded guilty.
Guha was granted bail with conditions including to reside at a Shepparton address, not to attend international points of departure and not to approach or remain within 200m of a place known to be frequented by any victim or witness.
He will attend the Shepparton County Court circuit starting March 15, 2022.
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