Daniel John Bell: Man sentenced in Kingaroy District Court on armed robbery, burglary with violence charges

A man who broke into a Nanango home and violently assaulted his victim during a terrifying armed robbery has finally been sentenced in court, more than five years after the attack. FULL REPORT:

A man who fractured another man’s skull with a hammer in a terrifying armed robbery has been sentenced in the Kingaroy court, more than five years after the violence took place.

The victim and his wife were getting ready to go to a barbecue on January 7, 2017, when they noticed Daniel John Bell and an unnamed co-offender in their backyard, armed with a hammer and screwdriver respectively.

Kingaroy District Court was told the co-accused pointed the screwdriver at the victim and demanded to be let in the house, then forced the man onto the couch inside and told Bell to “smash his kneecaps” if he tried to move.

Crown prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke said the 28-year-old’s co-offender rummaged through the couple’s home while Bell, armed with the hammer, demanded the man tell them “where the money was”.

“When the victim told him there was none in the house, (Bell) struck him in the head with the hammer a couple of times,” Ms O’Rourke said.

“He threatened to use the claw end of the hammer next time.”

Daniel John Bell leaving Kingaroy District Court on April 29, 2022.

The court heard the victim was left with blood pouring from his fractured skull and began pleading with the men to take his wife’s medication and leave, then tried to grab the hammer from Bell.

Bell then headbutted the man before he and his co-offender fled the scene.

Ms O’Rourke said Bell left behind a bloodied white cap amid the struggle, but it was not until he was arrested on unrelated charges in 2020 that police were finally able to match his DNA to that found at the victims’ home.

He appeared in court having spent just under 18 months in pre-sentence custody.

Defence barrister James Feely said Bell was only 23 years old at the time of the armed robbery, and had grown into a completely different person in the years since the incident.

Bell pleaded guilty to one count each of burglary with violence while armed and armed robbery in company with personal violence.

He was sentenced to four years’ jail, wholly suspended for five years.