Named: Three charged after alleged Coburg home invasion over dog ownership ‘dispute’

Three people allegedly decided to take a dispute over dog ownership into their own hands, showing up with a golf club and baseball bat to demand it be handed over.

Two men and a woman have faced court accused of attacking a man with a golf club and baseball bat to steal a dog during a home invasion.

Detectives allege Christina Mollasi, 29, Shaun Crane, 29, and George Bakalov, 45, stormed a Coburg home on Gordon St at about 7.45pm on Tuesday.

It’s alleged the trio went to the property to seize a five-year-old blue staffordshire terrier named Diamond.

They were arrested the following day during a police stop in St Albans which located Diamond in the vehicle.

Each of the accused faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court from police custody on Thursday, charged with aggravated home invasion, assault, and damage offences.

Prosecutors told the court a male resident of the home was outside at the time when he allegedly observed the trio walking up the street toward him.

Police informant Detective Senior Constable Samantha Perez said police allege the resident recognised Ms Mollasi as the ex-partner of a friend.

She said Ms Mollasi was asking the man about the dog before Mr Bakalov allegedly struck his car with a golf club.

“He turned around to go inside and was struck to the left shoulder with a baseball bat by Mr Crane,” she alleged.

“He was then hit in the head with the golf club by Mr Bakalov before collapsing to the ground.”

Detective Perez said the alleged victim was a highschool friend of Ms Mollasi’s former partner, who had asked him to take care of Diamond when he was jailed last year.

“He felt Mollasi could not take care of the dog due to her drug use,” she said.

The court heard the alleged victim had looked after the dog for the past 12-months before the alleged home invasion took place.

Mr Bakalov and Mr Crane did not make bail applications and were remanded into custody, but Ms Mollasi chose to represent herself.

“It’s my dog, what’s happened here is he stole it from me and put it with them,” she said.
“I’ve tried for a year to get it back legally. No one has helped me.”

Ms Mollasi was denied bail by Magistrate Robert Stary who said she was an unacceptable risk of breaching her bail conditions.

“Those are serious charges your facing,” he said.

“Aggravated home invasion carries a minimum mandatory term of three years if proven.”

Ms Mollasi, Mr Bakalov and Mr Crane were remanded into custody ahead of their next court appearance on November 16.