Alleged Doncaster East thieves Ryan Carruthers, Shannon Picken and Ben Chetchuti to stand trial
A trio of accused thieves who allegedly dressed up as cops and stormed an eastern suburbs home in a $400,000 jewellery heist will stand trial.
Inner East
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An accused trio of fake cops who allegedly used police uniforms and a fake warrant to ransack a Doncaster home have been ordered to stand trial.
Ryan Carruthers, 40, Shannon Picken, 37, and Ben Chetchuti, 44, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 17, facing charges including home invasion, weapons possession and theft.
On Friday the three men appeared via video link from custody after the committal had been adjourned from last year.
Originally set to appear in a committal hearing on December 19, the court heard Mr Picken failed to attend.
Mr Picken’s lawyer William Blake told the court there “had not been enough staff” to bring him to the audiovisual link room on the day.
“I’ve been advised he never refused to appear,” Mr Blake told the court.
On Friday the court heard Mr Picken and Mr Carruthers plead not guilty to all charges, including home invasion and theft.
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Mr Chetchuti pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of a firearm and two counts of possessing an unregistered firearm.
He however, pleaded not guilty to one count of jewellery theft and one count of home invasion.
Police allege Mr Picken, Mr Carruthers and Mr Chetchuti impersonated police in order to rob an eastern suburbs home in April 2024, allegedly using a police badge and a fake search warrant to force their way into the Doncaster East home
Police allege Mr Picken also allegedly attacked an occupant with knuckledusters.
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He was arrested and charged with alleged weapons possession and was hospitalised after allegedly sustaining injuries at the scene.
Mr Chetchuti was arrested and charged on April 12 and allegedly busted with multiple firearms.
Mr Carruthers was also arrested at Broadmeadows in late April.
Police alleged Mr Carruthers was caught with a firearm, GHB and meth.
On Friday, the three men were ordered to stand trial in the County Court, set to begin on February 14.
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