Robert Conte fronts court over violent home invasion
An amateur boxing champion allegedly wielded a hammer to enforce a drug debt during a violent home invasion in Chelsea Heights
Goulburn Valley
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A Shepparton-based amateur boxing champion accused of a violent home invasion to enforce a drug debt has been denied bail for the second time.
Robert Conte absconded to Queensland but was extradited to Victoria and appeared for a committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The 24-year-old allegedly entered a house on Chelsea Heights on June 24, armed with a baton and a hammer, and attacked a man to enforce a $2000 cannabis debt.
Mr Conte was initially denied bail in the Maroochydore Magistrates’ Court in Queensland in July after police objection, given his priors which included aggravated burglary.
He appeared via a prison link in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court where his lawyer James Mortley argued that compelling reasons existed for Mr Conte to be granted bail.
Mr Mortley said any concerns police and the prosecution have about Mr Conte’s bail could be ameliorated through a number of conditions.
Mr Conte was still a young man, has good family support in Shepparton which was a long way away from the alleged home invasion and has no prior conviction for failing to answer bail, Mr Mortley submitted.
He said the Mr Conte did not provide the cannabis for which the alleged drug debt was being enforced
Magistrate Malcolm Thomas said the charges Mr Conte faced were serious in that he allegedly brought the hammer and baton inside the Chelsea Heights’ house, took them out and meted an enforcement type beating on an occupant.
Mr Thomas said although the primary issue seemed to be Mr Conte’s identification, there were other evidence such as CCTV that suggested he was present in the Chelsea Heights’ house.
If Mr Conte was convicted of the charges, Mt Thomas said he would likely go to jail.
Mr Conte won the Victorian Amateur Boxing League state title last year.
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