Church support for Bible basher

THE Jehovah’s Witness church will provide ongoing support for a man when he is released from jail for violently robbing a taxi driver.

Aramai Condren, 20, pleaded guilty to the robbery alongside friend Codey Perham, 20, yesterday in Townsville District Court.

Crown prosecutor Cath Ferguson said the men caught a taxi in Townsville under a fake name on November 10 last year.

The pair refused to tell the driver, 67, their destination, instead speaking to him aggressively. The driver told them to get out. “At that point, Condren began yelling ‘ Pull up, where’s your money?’ and almost immediately Perham began yelling the words ‘ I’ll punch you in the mouth’,” Ms Ferguson said.

The man tried to drive away and Condren pulled his shirt around his neck, choking him.

“The complainant couldn’t reach the steering wheel and accelerated, causing the taxi cab to crash into a tree,” she said.

Condren continued to demand money and the driver threw some cash in his direction.

A second taxi driver, who heard the victim’s distress alarm, arrived to assist. Perham threw a rum and Coke at the 55- year- old driver.

Ms Ferguson said the men were arrested that day after they tried to book another taxi under a fake name.

The taxi driver had chest injuries, joint pain and was “shaking and distressed about what happened”. His car was a write- off and after insurance was paid out, the taxi company was out of pocket $ 12,000.

Ms Ferguson said Condren had been jailed in 2015 for robbing a bus driver.

Defence barrister Harvey Walters said Condren’s mother was in Jehovah’s Witness and the church had offered support to him after his release.

“She instructs me that has been dealing with the West Congregation of her church and they have been visiting her son while he’s been in prison,” he said.

“He has picked up and continued on with his interest with the church and Bible studies.”

Mr Walters said alcohol was involved in the taxi driver robbery.

Defence barrister Scott Geeves said Perham had problems with drugs and alcohol in 2015 and last year, but he had “turned things around this year” with the help of his mother and stepdad.

Condren is a father- of- three and Perham’s second child is due while he is in custody.

Chief Judge Kerry O’Brien sentenced Perham to three years’ jail and Condren, who had a more serious criminal history, to three- anda- half years.

Perham will get parole release on July 11 next year and Condren will be eligible on August 28.