



Abductor threatened women with 'what happened to Jill Meagher'


Steve Butcher

A masked man who randomly abducted two terrified women at knifepoint in a Melbourne car wash warned them that "if there is any funny business you know what happened to Jill Meagher".

The County Court heard on Monday that after one of the women started to cry at the threat, Aaron Schrempf said: "I will rape you in front of each other and slit your throats."

Prosecutor Steve Ballek told the court Schrempf made the remarks after he entered the women's car in Keilor East. He then indecently assaulted and robbed them.

Judge Mark Taft described the circumstances as "particularly ugly offending" with the context of two young women, aged 19 and 22, accosted while washing their car as "alarming".

Judge Taft, who heard that Schrempf was then using ice heavily, also commented that the "most despicable threats were made, involving the tragedy of Jill Meagher".

Schrempf, 24, formerly of Coolaroo, pleaded guilty to two charges each of armed robbery, false imprisonment and indecent assault.

Defence lawyer Andrew Zingler told the court that while Schrempf had no memory of the threat involving Ms Meagher, he accepted it was made.

Ms Zingler said his client, a father of two young children, had acted "entirely out of character" and had "always respected women previously", but at the time was heavily drug affected.

Mr Ballek said Schrempf was heavily disguised when he walked into the Krystal Kleen car wash about 7pm on May 28 last year, opened the driver's door and said to the teenager: "Give me your money."

In shock and mute, the women then saw him remove a kitchen knife from his pants and say "I'm serious" before both women removed their wallets.

Mr Ballek said that as one victim tried to lock the doors, Schrempf was "too quick and opened the back door and got into the back seat", then took their wallets and mobile phones and ordered the driver to reverse from the bay.

He gave her directions and as they travelled both women asked him not to hurt them while one said she may be able to withdraw $1000 for him.

Mr Ballek said at one point Schrempf, who had removed his hood and bandanna, apologised and claimed he was "only doing this because he owed people money", but warned both women not to go to the police.

After dropping one woman at an ATM from which she withdrew $500, he ordered the other to keep driving. When the woman at the ATM turned to see that the car had gone she was "freaking out" with worry for her friend.

While they were away, said Mr Ballek, Schrempf grabbed the driver on her breast and threatened that if they did not find her friend in two minutes "I'm going to slit your throat".

After they collected her, Schrempf also indecently assaulted her and after the driver kept asking where he wanted to be dropped off he said: "Don't get too excited, it's not over yet."

Mr Ballek told the court that after he robbed the women of their iPhones, an iPod, driver's licences, cash, wallets and cards, he slammed the car door and yelled "go".

Mr Ballek said that after the incident was reported to police, they charged another man who had earlier been arrested for a similar offence, but those allegations were withdrawn when DNA results identified Schrempf.

Both women made victim impact statements, but only one was read out in court. She spoke of her fear and paranoia, sleepless nights, mood swings and increased anxiety and stress from a pre-existing depressive illness.

In his plea in mitigation, Mr Zingler said his client had prior convictions for dishonesty, one for criminal damage and many breaches of court orders that had not involved reoffending.

Mr Zingler said Schrempf, a former labourer supported in court by his parents and partner, was "shocked that he could act in this way".  He started using ice in 2012 to self-medicate a major depressive disorder. His drug usage ultimately increased to about one gram of ice a day, he said.

A psychologist reported that Schrempf, who was ashamed of his conduct, was a low to moderate risk of reoffending.

In his sentencing submissions, Mr Ballek described the offences as degrading and terrifying for the victims, particularly the reference to Ms Meagher and the threats of violence and those of a sexual nature.

With no explanation for the indecent assaults, they "can only be seen as gratuitous", he suggested.

Schrempf was remanded for sentencing on a date to be fixed.

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