CHASE DRIVER HAD DRUG LAB IN CAR, COURT TOLD

A MAN who led police on a high-speed chase and shoot-out on Tuesday was
allegedly living out of a car with a methylamphetamine laboratory in its
boot, a court was told yesterday.

Ross Barry Mulholland, 48, appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on 10
charges, including seven counts of attempting to unlawfully kill and the
dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Les Hall said police estimated Mulholland
discharged his gun about 13 times at police and civilians as he attempted
to evade capture.

Mira Zdral, 26, who was in the car with him, was charged with the same
offences but was granted bail on the basis she was not accused of being the
principal offender.

The court was told police in Oxley had been attempting to pick up
Mulholland for questioning over the suspected laboratory in his car.
However they stopped the chase because it was deemed too dangerous.

Sgt Hall said police in the Beenleigh district saw the high-powered
Commodore about midday and continued the chase, reaching 150km/h in
suburban streets.

He alleged that as a police car drew alongside the Commodore, Zdral
unpacked a semi-automatic pistol from a bag and gave it to Mulholland, who
fired off three shots at police.

Sgt Hall said that despite the Commodore hitting a concrete kerb and
blowing out its front tyre, it continued on recklessly and at one point
travelled along the footpath near Kingston State High School.

He said the chase ended only when Mulholland lost control of the car and it
smashed into a tree.

The court was told Mulholland continued firing at police when he got out of
the car and bullets had been found in a tree behind which an officer had
been hiding.

"He discharged his weapon until the magazine was empty. From where some of
them landed it is obvious they were aiming towards people and not just
firing willy-nilly," Sgt Hall said.

However Mulholland's solicitor Ben Clarke said his client had been shooting
only to escape the pursuit and had not been aiming at anyone specifically.

"He has been taught how to shoot and had he wanted to shoot anybody he
would've been able to. He was simply firing over the heads of people to get
away," he said.

Solicitor for Zdral, Neil Lawler, told the court his client had been
getting a lift home with Mulholland when police began to chase them.

"It is alleged that she was giving him directions as they drove but the
only directions she gave him were to stop the car and let her out," he said.

He said although Zdral had taken some methylamphetamine during the incident
she was not associated with Mulholland through drugs.

Magistrate Wally Ehrich granted Zdral bail on the condition she reside with
her parents in Laidley.

Both were remanded to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court for a committal
hearing on January 24 next year.