Duo charged over ‘bizarre’ kidnapping accused of ransom demand, threat to chop fingers

Two men were kidnapped, threatened with having body parts chopped off and their families received ransom demands for tens of thousands of dollars, a court has heard. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES

A GROUP of men threatened to cut off fingers and demanded a $30,000 ransom from relatives of two alleged victims of a “bizarre” kidnapping at Hervey Bay, a court has heard.

Brisbane Magistrate Jacqui Payne said it had been suggested the offenders were either “dangerous psychos’’ or there was another motive for the alleged crimes.

Charles Alfred Pawney was arrested and charged overnight with 16 offences including kidnapping for ransom and torture.

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Brisbane university student, Daniel John Willats, 21, who is studying for a dual degree in engineering and business, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard Willats was one of four men who are alleged to have forced their way into a Urangan home at 9pm on Sunday, before two men, aged 21 and 27 were tortured.

Willats and Charles Alfred Pawney, 21, who was remanded in custody after appearing in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court, were each charged with 13 offences.

They include kidnapping, deprivation of liberty, torture, assault occasioning bodily harm, break and enter and stealing and other offences. Police are still looking for two other men.

Police allege Pawney, who had been recently evicted from a Urangan property, saw his belongings left outside on a footpath and claimed $30,000 worth of drugs was missing.

Pawney, Willats and two others went to the property, where two men were assaulted and forced into a car and driven to Bunya Creek, the court heard.

Ms Payne said the incident was “so bizarre”, with threats made to cut off the alleged victims’ fingers.

She said there was allegedly also a phone call made to their relatives, with a $30,000 ransom demanded for their release.

Injuries sustained by a victim, 27, of an alleged home invasion and abduction.

Ms Payne said one man managed to flee, but the other alleged victim, who also tried to escape, was caught and a pistol was allegedly pointed at his head.

One of the men who was allegedly assaulted suffered a depression fracture to his face that will require maxiofacial surgery, the court heard.

When arrested in Brisbane, Willats admitted being at the scene of the crimes, the court heard.

Defence lawyer, Elliott Boddice, said Willats was studying full-time for dual degrees at Queensland University of Technology.

The Boat Harbour Drive house at Urangan which was the scene of an alleged kidnapping.

Ms Payne allowed Willats bail on strict conditions, including a $15,000 cash surety to be provided by his family before his release.

He will have to abide by an overnight curfew and report to police every day and he is barred from going to Hervey Bay.

He is not allowed contact with Pawney, the alleged victims or anyone else involved in the assaults. Pawney was remanded in custody.