Overview
- Police allege Ryan Meuleman, 28, tried to take a parked car with a woman and her three-year-old twins inside at a Pakenham laundromat on May 3.
- Court testimony says Meuleman climbed into the driver’s seat, put the car into drive, and fought with the woman over the gear stick until her husband returned and restrained him.
- Officers say Meuleman gave a false name, appeared drug-affected, was deemed unfit to be interviewed and was on bail at the time for separate burglary and theft allegations.
- Meuleman sought bail so he could join a 12-week residential rehabilitation program in regional Victoria, but the hearing was adjourned after the magistrate noted the facility did not monitor patients overnight.
- His criminal case has delayed his defamation suit against Daniel and Catherine Andrews over a disputed 2013 collision, and the matter returns to court on August 5 with police opposing release.