Accused robber to face trial

A SUSPECTED pharmacy bandit is set to go to trial after a Victorian County Court ruled that “coincidence evidence” linking the man to five armed robberies is admissible.

The robberies occurred between Feb and Jul 2017, and saw two pharmacies targeted, in the Melbourne suburbs of Deer Park and St Albans.

The Court heard a man armed with an imitation gun entered a pharmacy in Deer Park on 21 May 2017, and signalled that he wanted the pharmacist to open the till.

During this robbery, personal money was taken from the pharmacist and an attempt was made to take cash from a pharmacy assistant.

It was noted that the robber had a “European accent” and “the accused speaks with a Spanish accent”.

Victims at the second pharmacy reported the attacker spoke with an Australian accent.

The Crown presented evidence, including clothing matching those worn by the robber and an imitation gun found at the house of a friend of the accused’s.