Teen charged with stabbing robbery of Steven Van Meeteren in court
A teenager charged with stabbing shopkeeper Steven Van Meeteren has been convicted of two separate, prior offences.
The teenager who allegedly stabbed Wyong shopkeeper Steven Van Meeteren in a bungled robbery was convicted this week of separate shoplifting charges, as well as smashing his lover’s glass front door.
Lachlan Bell, 18, of Watanobbi, faced Wyong Local Court on Tuesday where he was put on a community corrections order for 12 months and ordered to pay $920 in compensation.
He pleaded guilty to malicious damage and had been convicted in his absence of larceny after he and a co-accused walked into Teralba Bottle Shop and ran away with a bottle of vodka and a bottle of rum in each hand about 4pm on February 25.
An agreed set of facts revealed he and a mate fled the store on foot and were seen by a witness to enter nearby Teralba Caravan Park. Police attended when two girls opened the door and police could see Bell and another young man “trying to hide behind the wall next to bunk beds”.
After initially denying the offence, the pair made full admissions and the alcohol was returned to the shop unopened.
Another set of fact sheets revealed Bell had been drinking with his “on-again, off-again” lover of about two years at his Newcastle unit on March 24.
“This discussion turns into an argument with the victim asking the accused to leave,” the facts read.
Bell returned about 11.50pm and smashed the glass front door to the unit causing $920 damage.
Bell remains remanded in custody after being charged with armed robbery with an offensive weapon, causing grievous bodily harm, and shoplifting after allegedly stabbing Mr Van Meeteren shortly after 9am on April 2.
Charge sheets allege Bell was in company with three others at the time and he tried to steal money from Mr Van Meeteren at Carmichael’s Corner Shop.
Police further allege at 11.18am on the same day Bell attended Coles at Wyong where he allegedly shoplifted a packet of Band Aids worth $10.
He has not entered a plea and returns to court on June 18.
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