Brendan Wood: Inner West armed robbery accused ‘a role model’
Police allege Brendan Wood was involved in a series of armed robberies where knives, a machete, a baseball act were brandished. His lawyer painted a different picture, describing him as a role model to teens and a caring son.
Inner West
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The man accused of taking part in a string of violent armed robberies earlier this year has been described as “a role model” despite a court hearing he has previously been to jail for a similar offence.
Darlington man Brendan Wood, 33, was charged on Wednesday after an investigation by the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad into robberies in Annandale, Five Dock and Croydon earlier this year.
Police will allege in court two men armed themselves with knives, baseball bats, a machete and an axe held up the series of businesses and fast food restaurants and terrorised staff on the premises in January.
It is understood during the first alleged robbery at the Fantasy 35 brothel which boasts of “Asian hospitality”, a man was hospitalised after being assaulted before the culprits stole a Toyota RAV4 and fled.
Appearing from the cells at the Surry Hills Police Station, Wood sat quietly as he was denied bail in the Central Local Court by Magistrate Michael Crompton.
His lawyer Morgan Hunter told the court there were “entirely innocent explanations” for why his DNA was found on an item in a bag located by cops during a raid on a co-accused’s property.
Telephone intercepts, the court heard, allegedly caught two other men talking about “work” in reference to robberies but Mr Hunter maintained Wood had strong community ties and family responsibilities.
“(His partner) describes him as being very involved in her and her childrens’ lives … and has been a role model to them for the past six years of their relationship,” Mr Hunter argued.
The court was told Wood had been jailed over an armed robbery in 2015 but in the time since he had become the sole carer for his mother after a double lung transplant.
CCTV footage showed a very clear shot of him during the second incident, Wood’s lawyer Mr Hunter said, who also claimed that was the only strong evidence against him.
He has yet to enter pleas to charges of robbery while armed after being arrested at a home on Edwards St, Lilyfield yesterday.
Having been remanded in custody, Wood’s matter was adjourned to be heard again back in the same court later this year.
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