Scott Perry trial: jury discharged after judge contracts Covid

Jurors in the trial of a Corio dad alleged to have posed as a cop during two brazen robberies have been discharged after the judge overseeing the trial caught Covid.

Scott Perry is alleged to have taken part in two brazen robberies, including a home invasion in which the perpetrators pretended to be police officers.

The jury in the trial of a man accused pretending to be a cop during two robberies has been discharged in the midst of closing arguments, after the judge contracted Covid.

Scott Charles Perry, 48, faced trial in the County Court in Geelong on a number of charges including false imprisonment, home invasion and theft, stemming from a 2023 home invasion.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

On March 20 last year, four offenders barged into a Whittington home at about 8.20am, pretending to be police officers executing a search warrant on the house.

The invaders were dressed in businesslike attire and wearing blue-latex gloves in order to maintain the appearance of being police officers.

The offenders ransacked the house, taking off with cash, cannabis plants and Nike shoes, as well as both the family’s cars.

Minutes before the home invasion, the same offenders robbed two brothers walking along Solar Drive.

The prosecution alleged Mr Perry was among the gang involved in both robberies.

That the robbery occurred is not in dispute, nor are the identities of Mr Perry’s three co-accused – Abynei Lacey, Ricky Wilson and Mr Perry’s son, Zach Perry.

The trial before Judge Gavan Meredith commenced July 11.

But on Thursday morning, Judge Meredith was unable to come to the bench, having contracted Covid.

Appearing in his place, Judge Gregory Lyon told the jury they would have to be discharged.

A new trial date before Judge Gerard Mulally has been set for October.

Judge Lyon said the matter had been discussed with the head of the court’s criminal division, and there was nothing else that could be done.

“All the options have been canvassed,” Judge Lyon told the jury.

“It gives me no pleasure to deliver the news to you.”

Judge Lyon told the jury they had played an important role, despite the lack of a conclusion, and thanked them for their service.

The discharge came after prosecutor Andrew Grant had spent much of Wednesday putting the prosecution’s case before the jury, and was due to continue on Thursday.

Mr Perry’s lawyer, Jonathan Rattray, had yet to begin his own closing address.

However, in his opening address at the start of the trial, Mr Rattray argued the jury would not be able to identify Mr Perry from CCTV footage.

He also told the jury to consider if the witnesses in the alleged home invasion were reliable and would have correctly identified Mr Perry’s involvement in the offending.

His bail was extended until October.

Originally published as Scott Perry trial: jury discharged after judge contracts Covid