Alleged Curry Lover thief Solomon Tefera Woreta pleaded not guilty

A man will face trial after he suffered a severe skull fracture in a citizen's arrest during an alleged terrifying baseball bat robbery.

A man will face trial after he was ensnared in a citizen’s arrest while allegedly robbing a western suburbs restaurant. 

Solomon Tefera Woreta, 38, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday and entered a not guilty plea through his counsel to robbery.

Mr Woreta was granted supervised bail in November on compassionate grounds – during which he was recovering in the brain injury unit at the Repatriation General Hospital after suffering a “very severe” skull fracture.

During a previous bail application, the court heard Mr Woreta, of Parafield Gardens, allegedly entered Croydon Park’s Curry Lover Indian restaurant on October 26 with a baseball bat and demanded money.

The Croydon Park restaurant which Mr Woreta allegedly robbed. Picture: Agnes Gichuhi

The court heard he allegedly tapped the bat on the counter and told the restaurant’s owner to hand over cash before making his way behind the counter and continuing to make threats.

Mr Woreta then allegedly grabbed $80 from the till and threatened the two owners of the restaurant.

Aaron Fornarino, lawyer for the accused, told the court Woreta had to have part of his skull removed in the aftermath of the robbery and the ensuing citizen’s arrest.

Croydon Park restaurant owner Anita Singh, 42. Picture: Agnes Gichuhi

Police had previously issued a statement saying Mr Woreta’s injuries were “sustained prior to his arrest”.

Solomon Woreta will face trial for the alleged robbery. Picture: Facebook

Solomon Woreta leaving the Adelaide Magistrates Court after pleading not guilty to robbery. Photo: Lucy Rutherford

On Thursday, Magistrate Simon Smart committed Mr Woreta to the District Court for arraignment in October.