Two charged over alleged armed robbery of Harlaxton business face Toowoomba Magistrates Court

While two people allegedly connected to an armed robbery of a Harlaxton business have appeared in court, a third man and accused gunman is still on the run.

Two people have been charged in connection to an alleged armed robbery of a Toowoomba business, while a third person accused of using a pistol to demand cash remains on the run.

Rebecca Elizabeth Charles, 32, and Leslie John Thomas Neal, 39, had their matters mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning after the duo were charged with armed robbery.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Chris Willson told the court that while neither Ms Charles or Mr Neal were the alleged “principal offender”, the pair were allegedly parties to the offence “before, during and after” the armed robbery, as they were allegedly “involved in the planning and also involved in destroying evidence after the offence”.

Police allege that on the morning of December 28 a male entered a business in Harlaxton and, while armed with a firearm, made threats before fleeing with $7500 in cash.

Senior Constable Willson said Ms Charles is accused of driving a vehicle to the location as well as being the getaway driver after the robbery, while Mr Neal was in the passenger seat of the getaway vehicle.

It’s also alleged that Ms Charles and Mr Neal destroyed evidence following the incident, and that Mr Neal instructed Ms Charles to “dispose” of the firearm while he got rid of clothing worn at the time of the alleged robbery.

In opposing Ms Charles’ bail application, Senior Constable Willson said the alleged offences were “very serious”.

“While it is accepted (Ms Charles allegedly) did not have direct involvement she knowingly participated in quite a serious offence which (allegedly) involved a pistol being presented and threatened towards a Toowoomba shopkeeper, and the contents of a safe stolen,” Senior Constable Willson said.

Ms Charles’ solicitor Jag MacDonald told the court his client had no knowledge that a robbery was going to be committed when she drove to the store on Wednesday morning, insisting that she thought she was going to pick up money legitimately belonging to a third party.

Mr MacDonald told the court his client was a single mother of two with “substantial ties” to the community, and that with delays in court hearings it could be “up to 18 months” for the matter to reach a trial, if it were to proceed that way.

Magistrate Damian Carroll said on the evidence before the court, he didn’t accept the story that she was unaware she was going to be involved in an alleged robbery as “convincing”.

Mr Carroll said he found Ms Charles an “unacceptable risk” of committing further offences, and refused her bail application.

Mr Neal, represented by Claire Graham, made no application for bail.

Ms Charles will next appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on January 27, while Mr Neal will return to court on January 5.

Senior Constable Willson said police were still searching for the third person allegedly involved in the armed robbery.