Raven Pauga refused bail over alleged Conder home invasion stabbings

Police claim a Sydney teen wore his school pants while taking part in a violent Canberra home invasion, helping detectives tie him to the scene of the double stabbing.

Police claim an alleged Sydney gang associate wore his school pants while taking part in a violent Canberra home invasion, helping detectives tie him to the scene of the double stabbing.

Documents tendered to the ACT Magistrates Court reveal investigators noticed the western Sydney school’s logo in home CCTV footage of the incident, enabling them to identify Raven Pauga.

Pauga, 18, was refused bail in that court on Wednesday, having been arrested at his Blacktown home on Monday before being extradited to the nation’s capital.

He did not enter pleas to joint commission charges of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, nor allegations of aggravated burglary and property damage.

Pauga is the second western Sydney teenager to be remanded in custody over his alleged role in the violent intrusion, joining fellow 18-year-old Lytrell Eneliko behind bars in the ACT.

Raven Pauga arrives at Canberra’s City Police Station on Tuesday, following his extradition from Sydney. Picture: ACT Policing

Eneliko previously pleaded not guilty to intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possessing an offensive weapon with intent.

In documents tendered to the court on Wednesday, police say a man and a woman were at their south Canberra home when they woke to the sound of loud knocking on May 4.

Officers lead Raven Pauga into City Police Station. Picture: ACT Policing

When the woman opened the door to the Conder house, a man said to be Eneliko allegedly barged in and stabbed her four times, including in the chest and upper arm.

Police claim three more males then entered the house and headed for a bedroom, where they allegedly forced a male resident onto a bed while shouting: “Where’s the money?”

This man later told police three of the intruders punched and kicked him in the head before he fell into a chair, where one of them allegedly stabbed him in the arm and hamstring.

The group then fled, allegedly breaking the home’s front window and a car windshield as they left.

Lytrell Eneliko is led out of a van outside Canberra’s City Police Station in May, following his arrest and extradition. Picture: ACT Policing

Court documents say police quickly arrived at the scene and rendered first aid, applying tourniquets to both residents to stop their wounds bleeding.

During the ensuing investigation, police spoke to a witness who said he had seen people running towards a silver hatchback that was later linked to Eneliko.

Officers raided Eneliko’s home in the Sydney suburb of Marayong on May 27, allegedly seizing a bloodstained knife and clothing he is accused of wearing during the home invasion.

“Eneliko admitted to … stabbing [the alleged victims] but declined to identify his co-offenders or reasons for committing the offences,” police allege in court documents.

The ACT law courts building. Picture: Blake Foden

At Eneliko’s house, police also spotted tracksuit pants with an orange, star-shaped logo.

Police documents say the Chifley College pants were “identical in appearance” to those worn by one of the other intruders in home CCTV of the incident.

This prompted police to make inquiries, which they say resulted in the identification of Pauga.

Investigators also examined Eneliko’s phone, allegedly finding videos that showed a group wearing the same clothes as the intruders play-fighting at a Canberra fast food outlet hours before the home invasion.

Pauga applied for bail on Wednesday, when Legal Aid duty lawyer Lesley Jayasuriya described his alleged involvement in the incident as “more limited” than that of Eneliko.

Prosecutor Henry Robinson opposed bail, noting Pauga had only just turned 18 at the time in question.

Despite Pauga’s youth, Mr Robinson described the alleged offending as “very adult crimes”.

“It’s premeditated. It’s brazen. It’s relatively terrifying,” he said.

Mr Robinson also told the court Pauga was alleged to be associated with Mount Druitt gangs.

He said while confusion surrounded the roles of the alleged home invaders, Pauga was accused of entering the house and breaking the car windscreen outside by stomping on it.

Magistrate Robert Cook said he considered Pauga “a high risk” to the community.

Pauga was therefore remanded in custody until August 1, when Eneliko is also due back in court.