All eyes on the OTHER Kyle Sandilands-linked court case - as judge erupts: 'I can't believe I have to say this'

By STEPHEN GIBBS, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 15:20, 6 April 2026 | Updated: 15:20, 6 April 2026 The case against a mysterious Chinese heiress accused of ploughing her $1.5million Rolls-Royce into a Mercedes-Benz while under the influence of alcohol continues to hit legal hurdles. More than nine months after LanLan Yang allegedly slammed her Rolls into a van being driven by radio host Kyle Sandilands's regular chauffer, police have still not produced a brief of evidence. By the time a scheduled five-day hearing is due to start in late November, 17 months will have passed since the crash - if the case does go ahead as planned. Yang has appeared in person just once on the eight occasions the matter has been mentioned in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court since August last year. If the 24-year-old does not turn up when a pre-hearing status mention takes place in October, a warrant will be issued for her arrest. Yang has already admitted breaching her bail after failing to notify police she had moved from an eastern suburbs penthouse at Watsons Bay to a harbourside apartment.  Sandilands is embroiled in his own legal drama, having launched Federal Court action against his former employer ARN Media after it terminated his $100million contract. Days after the crash he described Mr Plassaras as the 'greatest employee ever' but has steered clear of commenting publicly about Yang's court case. The case against mysterious Chinese heiress LanLan Yang, who is accused of ploughing her $1.5million Rolls-Royce into a Mercedes-Benz while under the influence of alcohol, continues to hit legal hurdles More than nine months after Yang (above) allegedly slammed her Rolls into a van being driven by Kyle Sandilands's regular chauffer, police have still not produced a brief of evidence The crash catapulted Yang into an almost instant celebrity-like status, particularly among Chinese Australians who have been intrigued by her obvious and unexplained wealth.  At the time of her arrest Yang kept a spare Rolls-Royce - this one a white $800,000 Ghost convertible - unregistered in the garage of the Watsons Bay property.  She has only been filmed or photographed twice without a face mask - once after first being granted bail and a second time while dining at a Circular Quay restaurant.  The sometime university student's Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan collided with a black Mercedes van driven by 52-year-old George Plassaras at Rose Bay about 3.20am on July 26. Mr Plassaras reportedly suffered a broken spine, shattered hips, two broken femurs, busted ribs, a ruptured spleen and torn-open abdomen. Yang has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm - drive under the influence, and driving with a mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol.   She has also pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, failing to submit to a breath test and not giving particulars to police. Yang's case was back before court on March 31 when barrister John Korn said he had still not been served with most of the police brief of evidence. Days after the crash Sandilands (above) described Mr Plassaras as the 'greatest employee ever' but has steered clear of commenting publicly about Yang's court case The only time Yang (left) has been photographed without a mask is when the Daily Mail snapped her with a friend dining at the Museum of Contemporary Art in September Two women who have been following Yang's case were in court to hear the latest developments. While Mr Korn had been given those parts of the brief related to the alleged drink-driving offences, he and the police prosecutor had received 'virtually none' of the crash investigation material. Mr Korn said the proceedings against Yang had been 'hanging around for quite a while' and his client wanted it set down for hearing.   'This matter's got a terrible history,' he told Judge Karen Stafford. Mr Korn said there was a new officer in charge of the investigation and if police evidence about the crash was more complicated than anticipated it might delay the case even further. Judge Stafford noted witnesses would be required to remember events from July last year and said: 'This is why we've got to keep matters moving.' Mr Korn said Mr Plassaras would be the most important prosecution witness to give evidence about the crash and any bystanders would not be particularly relevant. Judge Stafford set the case down for a five-day hearing from November 27 to December 4 and ordered the brief of evidence be served by May 26. Yang often parked her Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan outside a neighbour's house (above)  Yang kept an unregistered Rolls-Royce Cullinan worth about $800,000 in her garage (above) 'I can't believe I have to say this,' Judge Stafford said of demanding the brief be produced for the prosecution.  She listed a pre-hearing status mention for October 2 and said an arrest warrant would be issued for Yang if she did not appear in person. Judge Stafford also ordered the officer-in-charge be present that day if the brief had not been served as directed. 'I'm cringing already,' Judge Stafford said of the case's timetable. 'I shouldn't. It'll resolve itself. Let's be positive.' When Yang's case was first mentioned on August 15, scores of curious Chinese Australians lined up outside court to catch a glimpse of the camera-shy multimillionaire. Yang disappointed them by appearing only briefly via audio-visual link from her lawyer's office. Some of Yang's background was disclosed when her case was mentioned for the second time on September 26 but she did not appear on screen or in person. Mr Korn revealed that day Yang's parents had sent her to Australia at attend school when she was 14 and she was now a permanent resident. Yang's Rolls-Royce Cullinan collided with a Mercedes van driven by 52-year-old George Plassaras at Rose Bay about 3.20am on July 26 (above) Mr Plassaras (above) reportedly suffered a broken spine, shattered hips, two broken femurs, busted ribs, a ruptured spleen and torn-open abdomen  Yang had rarely returned to China, suffered 'considerable' mental health issues and 'hardly leaves her home', Mr Korn said. When Yang's matters were listed on October 17 a registrar said the defendant would be expected to appear in person the next time.  The case was mentioned on November 14 when solicitor Michael Korn told a registrar his client had been excused from attending. On that day, Mr Korn denied outside court that Yang had been receiving special treatment. As part of her bail conditions, Yang is required to report once a week to Rose Bay police station. On January 14, a young Asian woman dressed in a Chanel top and Chanel jeans reported on bail as Yang, then made an extraordinary claim on the footpath. Reporter: 'Are you LanLan or someone else?' Yang (above) dresses head to toe in designer clothing, routinely runs away when approached by reporters, and almost always wears a face mask Police launched an investigation into that woman's identity and cleared Yang of using a body double but confirmed she had not been living in the Watsons Bay residence. The following Wednesday, Yang reported for bail dressed in a $12,000 tweed coat over ripped denim shorts, accessorised with a $1,499 Celine bucket hat and $1,830 Chanel slingbacks. Yang was again excused from appearing in court on January 22 when Michael Korn sought to have her residential bail condition varied.  Chief Judge Michael Allen granted the application, which had the consent of the officer in charge of the investigation. 'This is a matter that has, I note, attracted a significant level of media interest, perhaps over and above its status in the nature of matters that come before this and other courts,' Judge Allen said. Outside court, Mr Korn was asked if it had always been Yang who presented herself to report on bail at Rose Bay police station. 'Yes, it has,' he said, and it not otherwise suggested. The next day, Yang walked into Downing Centre Local Court for the first time, wearing a face mask and Chanel sunglasses as she sat in the public gallery.  Barrister Greg Stanton conceded Yang had breached her bail due to a change of address but said: 'There's an explanation - it doesn't attribute any great fault to her.' 'There was a miscommunication... an assumption was made,' Mr Stanton told Judge Stafford. Yang was excused from appearing on January 30 and that privilege was extended to her next two court dates, until Judge Stafford's March 31 intervention. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.