Shandal Lea Baker: Logan woman accused of armed robbery to plead not guilty

A young Logan woman has been denied bail after she and her allegedly machete-wielding boyfriend broke into a man’s home and stole his car, phone and TV.

A couple accused of stealing a man’s car from his home – only to return later for his phone and TV – have faced court to apply for bail.

Shandal Lea Baker, 26, of Marsden appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Wednesday, August 3 charged with a string of offences including robbery and entering a premises by break.

It is alleged she committed the two serious offences on June 11, while she was on parole, with her former boyfriend.

The prosecution said Baker sent a text message to the alleged victim about 5.20am on the day in question asking him to open the front door of his Beenleigh home.

It is alleged he opened his front door, was greeted by Baker, and let her into his house.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Miller said the young woman left the address a short time later after receiving a phone call, telling her alleged victim she needed to go and collect her boyfriend.

After about 30 minutes, the alleged victim heard a knock at his door and was once again greeted by Baker and let her into his house.

Snr Cnst Miller said a man followed Baker into the house, pulling a hatchet and machete from behind his back on his way in.

The man allegedly waved the machete in the air and pointed it at the victim before shoving and knocking him backwards over a chair.

He said Baker’s co-accused then grabbed the victim’s car keys and told him not to call the police, thanking him for his car and driving off in it.

The car was later located with the keys still in the ignition.

Snr Cnst Miller said the victim was returning home in his car when he noticed his front door, which he had earlier secured, was open.

It is alleged Baker and her co-accused broke into the house and stole a number of items including a phone and a flat TV screen.

A forensic examination of the home revealed Baker’s fingerprints on jewellery boxes that had been tipped over in the alleged break-in.

Defence solicitor David Gilmore said his client had instructed him she would be pleading ‘not guilty’ to the offending as the principal offender “on all occasions” was her former partner.

The court heard she was not aware of what he would be doing and only accompanied him in circumstances where she was frightened.

Magistrate Mark Howden noted the young woman had a criminal history that dated back to 2014 and she had been on parole for some eight to nine months.

He said he was concerned she would commit further offences and fail to appear in court when required if she was released on bail.

Baker’s application was refused and she was remanded in custody. Her matter will return to Beenleigh Magistrates Court for committal-mention on September 14.

The court heard Baker’s co-accused appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on August 2 and also had his application for bail refused.