Court hears identity of Richmond heist may never be known

The defence for Percy Lanciana, who is accused of an infamous road gang robbery has argued the masterminds who pulled off the $2.3 million heist in Richmond two decades ago disappeared into the clouds.

Pasquale "Percy" Lanciana,

The identity of five armed robbers who pulled off a “beautiful” $2.3 million heist may never be known, a court has heard.

As the trial for Pascquale “Percy” Lanciana entered its second day, the jury was told they must consider the “rogue gallery” of the criminal underbelly of Melbourne who were “possibly, probably, almost certainly” responsible for the 1994 Armaguard holdup.

Lanciana, 61, has pleaded not guilty to the infamous road gang robbery in which the crooks posed as road workers to block the van carrying cash from the Reserve Bank.

“It was professional, somewhat audacious and beautifully carried out,” defence barrister Mark Gumbleton told the County Court.

“In about ten seconds, $2.3 million was taken and disappeared into the ether, and so too did the people who did it,” he said.

Pasquale 'Percy' Lanciana arrives at Supreme Court in 2016. Picture: Hamish Blair

Police statements from the three Armaguard security officers, who have all since passed away, revealed stunning new detail of the crime that gripped Melbourne.

John Johnston was in the back of the truck when two men burst in screaming “don’t f***ing move, this is a robbery”.

The van’s driver, Michael West, told police he felt a gust of air from the back of the van before a revolver was shoved in his face.

“They said: Don’t try to be smart and you won’t get hurt,” his statement read.

Mr West said he was ordered to lie face down in the back of the van with his hands behind his back but one of the robbers was struggling to get the handcuffs over his watch.

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“He said to me ‘I’m going to take off your watch- but don’t worry, I’m not a thief."

The robbers also reassured the guards that the garbage bags placed over their heads had holes in them “so you won’t suffocate”.

The court heard the crooks likely had an “inside man” as they used two specially cut keys to gain entry to the back of the truck.

It was also revealed the route taken by the Armaguard crew that day was “back to front” and was different to every other time they had taken it. “It was an unusual route,” Mr West told police.

The trial before Judge Michael O’Connell continues.