Jeremy Richards found guilty of home invasions, while co-accused Leslie Mather and Adam Murch acquitted

Two masked intruders who threatened homeowners at gunpoint to steal their marijuana crops have been found guilty at trial, while their alleged accomplices were acquitted.

Two men who threatened homeowners at gunpoint on a mission to steal their marijuana plants have been found guilty, while their alleged accomplices were acquitted.

Jeremy Joseph Zico Richards, 40, and another man, whose details are suppressed, were found guilty by a jury for their involvement in the violent home invasions.

Their co-accused, Leslie Jay Mather, 45, and Adam Christopher Murch, 48, were acquitted of all counts.

Adam Murch, acquitted. Photo: Facebook

Leslie Mather, acquitted. Photo: Facebook

Opening the men’s trial in the Adelaide District Court, Michael Foundas, for the prosecution, told the court the group of men broke into two neighbouring properties in Wasleys, 20km north of Gawler on March 29, 2020.

The court heard the first homeowner Geoffrey Bown was woken just after 3.30am and confronted by masked intruders.

“At least one of the offenders was armed – one with a sawn-off rifle, the other with a sawn-off shotgun,” Mr Foundas said.

The court heard Mr Bown, who had the shotgun pointed in his face, was struck with one of the firearms and ordered to get on his knees.

The court heard Mr Bown’s partner, Catherine Hock was also threatened while she lay in bed and was told to keep her head under the covers or risk being shot.

The couple’s 13-year-old son was asleep in his bedroom down the hall.

“Wearing nothing but his underwear he (Mr Bown) was forced out of his bedroom into the rear of the property where his hands were tied behind his back and he was threatened to be shot if he didn’t co-operate,” Mr Foundas said.

“As Mr Bown was lying there on the boot of his car … he could hear the intruders attempting to cut out the cannabis plants he had growing behind his shed.”

Mr Foundas said the group then moved on to Shaun Richards’ home next door.

Mr Richards was woken by his dog’s continuous growling and retrieved a machete before confronting the intruders in his kitchen.

He struck one of the intruders with the machete, the court heard.

“That intruder then yelled out to his accomplice … ‘just shoot him, just shoot him’,” Mr Foundas said.

The court heard Mr Richards was kicked by one of the men, but managed to strike the intruder with the machete a second time.

The court heard the injured intruder was dropped off at the Balaklava hospital, and police found his blood in Mr Richards’ house.

Mr Foundas said the alleged motive for the robberies was that Mr Bown and Mr Richards were growing marijuana in their homes.

Jeremy Richards, convicted. Photo: Facebook

Jeremy Richards, of Old Noarlunga, Mr Mather, of Port Willunga, Mr Murch, of North Haven, and the fourth man pleaded not guilty to serious criminal trespass, attempted robbery, threatening to cause harm and false imprisonment.

In cross examination, lawyer Nick Vadasz, said Mr Bown only received a fine for his crop, while Mr Richards, who had “well over two kilos of drying cannabis” was only prosecuted for personal use.

“These gentleman were growing what I say is undoubtedly a commercial quantity of cannabis … and they have come out of it very well,” he said.

Mr Richards and the other man will face court in November for sentencing submissions.