Joseph Paul Chehade to stand trial over claims he assaulted Walter Ventura and set fire to his North Adelaide property
A man will stand trial after having denied responsibility for a North Adelaide arson and an assault targeting a top South Australian food identity.
Police & Courts
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A man will stand trial accused of setting fire to restaurateur Walter Ventura’s million-dollar property – and attacking him and another man with a broomstick and a wine bottle.
On Monday, Joseph Paul Chehade faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court by video link.
He pleaded not guilty to having damaged property, belonging to Mr Ventura, at North Adelaide on July 13 last year.
Mr Chehade also pleaded not guilty to having trespassed in Mr Ventura’s North Adelaide home, one day later, with the intention of committing assault.
Mr Chehade also pleaded not guilty to having assaulted Mr Ventura by using a broomstick, and a second man by using a wine bottle, on that same day.
Finally, Mr Chehade pleaded not guilty to setting fire to another of Mr Ventura’s properties, at North Adelaide, on July 27.
Mr Chehade, 37, of North Adelaide, first faced court in July last year, charged with one count of damaging a building or motor vehicle.
He was further charged with aggravated counts of serious criminal trespass in a place of residence, assault causing harm and assault with a weapon.
At that time, police alleged he assaulted Mr Ventura and another man, and caused damage to Mr Ventura’s Lefevre Tce home.
After being granted bail, Mr Chehade publicly denied any wrongdoing saying “people have issues with business”.
Two weeks later, he was arrested again and charged with arson over a $3 million fire in a North Adelaide building co-owned by Mr Ventura.
Mr Chehade was refused bail after prosecutors alleged he had admitted lighting “a small fire” that “had got out of control”.
On Monday, Magistrate Simon Smart remanded Mr Chehade in custody to face the District Court in April, when a date for trial will be set.
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