Duo accused of bribe bid
A man and woman will stand trial for allegedly attempting to bribe a witness in a homeinvasion case to not testify in court.
Julie Anne Perry, 35, and Nathan Russell Theobald, 41, appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday for a committal hearing, each facing a single charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Both pleaded not guilty to the allegations and magistrate Peter Mellas committed the pair to stand trial in Melbourne County Court.
Documents released by the court allege that a home invasion took place in March last year, in which money, cannabis plants, Nike shoes, Pandora jewellery and other items were stolen from a home in Whittington.
Four arrests were made in relation to the alleged home invasion and in November police officers attended the alleged victim’s home to ensure witnesses had copies of their witness summons and statements prior to a hearing the next day.
One of the witnesses, a 46year-old man, told police that a man and a woman – known to the alleged home invaders – had offered him money not to attend court.
Police allege the pair were Ms Perry and Mr Theobald, and that their arrival at the Whittington home, about 2pm that day, was captured on CCTV. Mr Theobald is alleged to have told the victim that if all charges were dropped, the alleged thieves would be “very happy” to repay the $12,000 cash that was stolen during the home invasion.
According to the witness, Mr Theobald went on to say the thieves would pay “whatever it took” for the victim not to turn up at court and give evidence.
The man told Mr Theobald he didn’t think he would take up the offer, court documents state.
Shortly after, the two gave up trying to convince the alleged victim, and left.
Ms Perry was allegedly found “hiding on the top shelf of a bedroom wardrobe covered by clothing” when she was arrested by police on December 11.
A search warrant allegedly located clothes matching those worn by the woman in the CCTV footage. She was interviewed and placed in a cell with an undercover police operative as part of the investigation.
According to the documents, Mr Theobald was arrested on December 13 at Essendon Airport after returning from a trip to see family.
The pair were directed for trial at Melbourne County Court in June.