Aaron Shugg, Beau Thorburne, Joanne Stokes in court over alleged home invasion

A trio of accused home invaders accused of kidnapping and robbing a man at gunpoint of electronics and sneakers in Norlane have fronted court.

Police at the scene of an alleged aggravated burglary in Station St, Norlane on January 9. Picture: Lincoln Holmes

A trio of accused home invaders will face a two-day contested committal hearing later this year, over allegations they robbed a man at gunpoint.

Joanne Stokes 28, Aaron Shugg, 21, and Beau Thorburne, 21 appeared for separate committal mentions in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday, each facing charges in relation to an alleged aggravated home invasion involving a firearm.

All three appeared via videolink from custody and all are charged with aggravated home invasion (assault) with firearm, kidnapping, armed robbery, two counts of common law assault and being a prohibited person possessing a firearm.

Shugg and Thorburne are also charged with committing a schedule one offence while on bail.

No details of the alleged offending were heard on Wednesday, however police said in January the incident took place on Station St in Norlane on January 9.

Police allege a number of people entered the property armed with a longarm firearm and a machete and demanded cash from a 44-year-old man.

During the incident a firearm was allegedly discharged into the ceiling of the home.

According to charge sheets, the trio allegedly robbed the man of a $860 worth of property, namely a TCL television, Sony speakers, a Kmart Anko brand back pack and black ASIC sneakers.

The alleged victim was not injured and was able to get to safety, according to police.

Mr Thorburne was arrested by specialist officers from the Critical Incident Response Team following the incident, after allegedly hiding in a neighbouring property.

Throughout the trio’s separate committal mention hearings on Tuesday, lawyers outlined which witnesses would be required for the committal proceedings before the matter could be sent upstairs to the County Court.

The court heard the prosecution also wanted to summon two witnesses for compulsory examination, including one the court heard was an “eyewitness at the scene”.

However the application was adjourned to April 28 due to limitations in witness availability.

The court heard the cross-examination would take an hour, and cover “confined issues”.

In the matter of Ms Stokes, her lawyer Nadia Giorgianni told the court she wished to cross-examine several witnesses at committal, including the police informant and the alleged victim, but may add the witnesses the Crown wanted to summon.

The court heard Kate Saunders, for Mr Thorburne, wanted to examine eight witnesses during the committal, three of which the prosecution opposed – all police officers – including the detective who “read Mr Thorburne his rights”.

Ms Saunders agreed to excuse two of the officers, but not the detective, as, being a plain-clothed officer, she did not have a bodyworn camera.

The court heard during his arrest, Mr Thorburne’s hands were placed in plastic bags for forensic testing, and small amounts of gunshot residue were found in the bags.

Prosecutor Marcel White said he would not be opposed to that officer being called.

Stephanie Mawby, for Mr Shugg, also asked to examine three witnesses.

Mr Shugg, Ms Stokes and Mr Thorburne will face a two-day committal hearing from August 11-12.

Originally published as Aaron Shugg, Beau Thorburne, Joanne Stokes in court over alleged home invasion