Joshua Elliott, Joshua Cowen, Timothy Elder: Nowra trio allegedly kidnapped, assaulted man in home invasion

The case of three men accused of kidnapping and assaulting a man during a home invasion on the south coast has returned to court with “good news”.

The three men allegedly kidnapped and assaulted a man during a home invasion. Picture: Generic, file

The trial of three men accused of kidnapping and assaulting a man in an alleged south coast home invasion may not go ahead, with indications previous pleas could change, a court has heard.

Joshua Elliott, Joshua Cowen and Timothy Elder were scheduled to go to trial in the Nowra District Court this month after denying allegations they kidnapped and assaulted a man during an alleged home invasion on October 29, 2022.

The three Nowra men are charged with kidnap in company with intent to cause actual bodily harm, aggravated enter dwelling, stalk or intimidate and common assault.

Not guilty pleas were previously entered by the trio in the Nowra Local Court before their case moved to the district court, with a jury trial scheduled for November 2024.

However, the week the trial was supposed to kick off, defence barristers Joseph Klarica, Jack Hibbard and Bernadette O’Reilly revealed negotiations with the crown on the case’s agreed facts were “going well” and suggested pleas of guilty could be entered as soon as Thursday morning.

Joshua Elliott, Joshua Cowen and Timothy Elder’s case was mentioned in the Nowra District Court.

The revelations arise more than two years since Elliott, Cowen and Elder allegedly broke into the Nowra home to kidnap the male occupant.

Documents tendered to the court state the men allegedly took the victim away from the home against his will, before assaulting him, causing serious injuries.

NSW Police conducted an investigation into the alleged offending, before the three men were arrested in December 2022.

All men were refused bail in the Nowra Local Court and have remained in the South Coast Correctional Centre since.

In court on Wednesday, Elliott’s defence barrister, Mr Klarica, submitted he was “confident” pleas could be entered on Thursday, saying the facts should be agreed upon by all parties on Wednesday.

Judge Christopher O’Brien thanked the three defence barristers and the crown prosecutor for their work in negotiating the facts.

The offence allegedly occurred in Nowra on the NSW south coast.

“Settling the facts is good news,” Judge O’Brien said.

“Very good news.”

Judge O’Brien adjourned the trio’s case to Thursday.

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