Jury finds Jason Wayne Comer guilty of armed robbery over Bendigo Bank heist

After more than a day of deliberations, a jury has handed down its verdict in the trial of a man accused of holding up a Geelong West bank with a shotgun.

Jason Wayne Comer has been found guilty of the 2021 armed robbery of Bendigo Bank in Geelong West. Picture: Facebook.

A jury has found Jason Wayne Comer guilty of armed robbery for a shotgun-toting daylight heist at a Geelong West bank.

With his face covered by sunglasses and a black surgical mask, Comer used the shotgun – concealed in an Aldi shopping bag – to steal $2500 in coins from the Bendigo Bank on April 30, 2021.

The jury of 10 men and two women began their deliberation on Friday, and the verdict was handed down just before 2pm on Monday.

The brief trial had a “clear issue” at its centre, the court heard – whether or not the 50-year-old Corio man was the person who walked into the bank on the fateful day. Comer’s defence claimed it was not him.

The prosecution said Comer’s resemblance to the robber, including a limp, the distinctive clothes he wore during the crime, phone logs and his actions following the heist proved he did it.

The court heard Comer drove to NSW in his partner’s car on the night of the robbery, before returning and then driving to Queensland, where he later sold the car used in the robbery to a friend.

After booking a flight under that friend’s name, Comer was arrested by police at Avalon Airport when he returned home.

Prosecutor Andrew McKenry told the jury on Friday that Comer’s actions were of a man going to great lengths to distance himself from the crime.

Comer’s defence lawyer Nick Goodenough argued his actions were all “explicable”.

Comer wore a glasses and a shirt and tie for the hearing, and was quiet as he awaited the jury’s decision.

He did not make a sound when he was found guilty.

Justice Tinney thanked the jury for their time after receiving the verdict.

“That brings to an end your function, ladies and gentleman,” Justice Tinney told the jury.

“It can’t work without people like you making themselves available.”

Comer has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.

Originally published as Jury finds Jason Wayne Comer guilty of armed robbery over Bendigo Bank heist