Elderly Deer Park couple allegedly attacked with knives during violent home invasion
A man accused of attacking an elderly couple while they were on a video call has faced court, telling the Magistrate he is a “law-abiding citizen”.
Police & Courts
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A hoodlum accused of a terrifying home invasion on an elderly couple has begged to be freed on bail, saying he never meant any harm and “just went out looking for cash”.
Richard Peter, 22, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday where police opposed his release, saying he was an unacceptable risk, having already been on two counts of bail when he stormed the elderly couple’s Deer Park home on Sunday night.
Representing himself, Mr Peter, from Derrimut, said he should be granted bail.
“I believe I am not a risk — to be honest, I am a law-abiding citizen,” Mr Peter told the court.
The court heard Mr Peter was facing charges over a mobile phone scam in which he raked in more than $30,000 in December; and drugs and weapons offences after he was caught smoking cannabis in a car with friends in June.
The court heard he smashed his way into the Birchwood Boulevard home of 63-year-old Cecilia and her husband Raymond, 79, about 11.30pm.
Brimbank CIU Detective Nathan Johnston said Cecilia was speaking to her sister who was overseas when she heard glass smash in the kitchen, and on inspection, found Mr Peter and co-accused Arop Daw.
Mr Daw allegedly grabbed a knife and threatened Cecilia and her husband, Raymond: “If you don’t give money, we will kill both of you.”
Mr Daw then allegedly pushed Cecilia to the back, causing her to fall to ground, before he held the kitchen knife to Raymond’s throat, demanding “money, we only want money”.
DEER PARK: A family home has been ransacked after two thugs smashed their way in through a kitchen window. They threatened an elderly couple with knives and scissors. The offenders were arrested INSIDE the home... and expected to face court later today @7NewsMelbourne pic.twitter.com/FbUOO6QGnR
— Cassie Zervos (@cassiezervos) August 24, 2020
Police allege the men ransacked the house, causing significant damage as they searched for cash and valuables throughout the 45-minute ordeal.
Blood was left splattered at the entrance of the house.
Cecilia’s panicked sister, in fear the couple were in danger, contacted another relative in Melbourne, who alerted police.
When police arrived and surrounded the house, the elderly couple fled out the front door.
The accused were allegedly caught trying to jump the back fence.
The court heard Mr Peter was holding a Canadian Club bottle, while Mr Daw had the couple’s bank cards, a gold chain necklace and $200 cash.
They were both charged with aggravated burglary, two counts of armed robbery, criminal damage and assault with a weapon.
Trying to explain his alleged actions, Mr Peter said he was “mad” after losing some money.
“We just went out looking for cash, you know,” he told the court.
“I did not mean no harm or anything like that.
“I was just trying to collect the cash and leave.”
Mr Peter denied police allegations he was violent towards the elderly couple.
“I didn’t do some of the things they were saying,” Mr Peter said.
“I didn’t touch them … they are elderly, you know.
“I was treating them with respect … when I was in their house.”
Det Johnston said Raymond suffers severe emphysema and had to be taken to hospital with breathing difficulties following the aggravated burglary.
He also sustained a cut underneath his eye and to his ear.
While Cecilia was not physically harmed, he said she was “visibly shaken and terrified”.
Magistrate Hugh Radford refused Mr Peter bail, saying it was serious offending against a frail elderly couple.
He said the fact the accused was on bail for other offending; and was arrested at the scene of the crime, made it a strong prosecution case.
Mr Daw, 19, from Kurunjang, made no application for bail.
The pair will return to court on November 16.
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