Geelong man Connor Uebergang insists he is innocent of terrifying Norlane home invasion

A Geelong man allegedly caught up in a terrifying Norlane home invasion has told a court he had no part in an attack that almost cost a man his life.

Connor Uebergang is accused of allegedly stealing from a Norlane home.

A second man allegedly involved in a frightening Norlane home invasion has told a court he was not in the house when its occupants were being threatened with a meat cleaver.

Geelong man Connor Uebergang is accused of being at the home in early April this year when Norlane man Grant Tuffnell-Vince almost killed someone with a meat cleaver during a drug search.

Police told the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday that Mr Uebergang, Tuffnell-Vince and two co-accused women allegedly arrived at the house intending to look for drugs.

It’s alleged they instead stole speakers and a box of oil from a shed.

Tuffnell-Vince pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years jail for storming into the house shortly after the theft, armed with a meat cleaver he later used to attack a man outside.

Grant Tuffnell-Vince (pictured) pleaded guilty to home invasion last week. Picture: Facebook.

Mr Uebergang is accused of allegedly entering the home at the same time as Tuffnell-Vince and later kicking at a man.

Mr Uebergang, who intends to plead not guilty, was originally facing a home invasion charge, but Magistrate John Bentley said there was insufficient evidence he entered and recommended it be downgraded to aggravated burglary.

CCTV footage allegedly shows the two men and two female co-offenders arrive at a Spruhan Ave home at 3.34am and leave eight minutes later after a near-fatal confrontation on the front yard.

However, with less than a minute of footage missing, Mr Bentley said prosecution are “relying on shadows”, rather than actual footage, and “none of them can point to them having entered at the same time”.

Prosecution said they would also rely on a statement from one of the co-accused women that places Mr Uebergang allegedly inside.

The co-accused woman told police there was an alleged “agreement” made inside the car “to go in and steal drugs”.

There was also an alleged intercepted call Mr Uebergang made to an unknown woman which police claimed counted as him admitting to entering the house.

Mr Uebergang’s lawyer, Bethany East, said there was “no evidence” he was part of any agreement to also assault the people inside and although he may have been present, “presence is not enough”.

Mr Uebergang was arrested on Sparks Rd two days later, just a few streets over from where police found a car that had been allegedly driven by Mr Uebergang on the night.

He was accused of allegedly running from police and resisting arrest.

The matter will return at a later date in the County Court of Victoria.

Originally published as Geelong man Connor Uebergang insists he is innocent of terrifying Norlane home invasion