Threats to stab couple
Details of home invasion revealed
A 32-YEAR-OLD man who police believe threatened to stab an elderly couple with a knife in a frightening weekend home invasion had been released from custody the day before the terrifying ordeal.
Police said the elderly Harlaxton couple, one of whom is a terminally ill 83-year-old man, has been left shaken by the incident.
The alleged offender was given bail 24-hours prior to the break-in.
THE man police believe committed a frightening armed robbery on an elderly couple at the weekend had been released from custody the day before, the city’s Magistrates Court heard.
Jamaine John Fing appeared in the dock yesterday, with police alleging he threatened to stab the Harlaxton couple in a violent home invasion. In denying the 32-year-old bail, Magistrate Viviana Keegan said the incident would have been a terrifying experience.
Magistrate Keegan had given him bail last Friday, 24 hours later police allege Fing stormed the property armed with a Stanley knife.
The court heard Fing allegedly threatened the woman’s 83-year-old husband, who is terminally ill and bed-ridden.
“There were menacing demands and threats to stab her,” Magistrate Keegan said.
Police believe Fing, and a 15year-old co-accused, tried to get away in car belonging to the couple before getting bogged in a paddock and fleeing on foot. Officers believe the duo is responsible for another break-in on the same street just moments after allegedly threatening an elderly couple with a knife.
“Police will allege a period of time after this offence the persons involved broke into a house up the road and they have been charged in relation to that also,” CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Paul McCusker said.
Fing’s solicitor Joe Millican claimed his client was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was picked up at a nearby property.
“There were a number of people at the house when he was arrested,” he said.
“When police came he was asked to sit down next to the bag of stolen jewellery and money.” Magistrate Vivian Keegan denied Fing bail and adjourned his matters to be heard back in the same court on September 20.