Jeremy Richards, Leslie Mather and Adam Murch standing trial over alleged home invasions

A homeowner in a small country town was left with a bloodied machete in hand after fighting off armed intruders who allegedly tried to steal his weed crop, a court has heard.

A homeowner has recounted the terrifying moment masked intruders allegedly threatened him at gunpoint, before his brave neighbour fought back.

Jeremy Joseph Zico Richards, 40, Leslie Jay Mather, 45, Adam Christopher Murch, 48, and a fourth man, whose details are suppressed, have pleaded not guilty to their alleged involvement in the violent home invasions.

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.”

Supplied Editorial Adam Murch. Photo: Facebook

Supplied Editorial Leslie Mather. Photo: Facebook

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, with police locating 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.

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

Giving evidence, Mr Bown told the court the intruders demanded to know where the plants were as soon as they were inside.

“I said ‘look, take what you want and get out. Leave my family alone’,” he said.

Mr Bown told the court after the intruders left and went to Mr Richards’ house he heard somebody scream “he’s killed me, I’m dying”.

“All I could think was that I hope it wasn’t Shaun,” he said.

Supplied Editorial Jeremy Richards. Photo: Facebook

Mr Bown said when he went outside after calling the police he saw Mr Richards with the bloodied machete still in hand and a trail of blood.

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.

“So their willingness to cooperate and to meld a story ... also comes out of the fact they were done a favour in the way that they were prosecuted.”

The trial before a jury of 11 women and three men continues.