EXPLOSIVE details have emerged in court revealing a gun was fired at a Port MacDonnell man’s house before a group of people attacked the victim and stole his Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Dermott Wayne Von Stanke, 23, and Tyson Ronald James Ratcliffe, 33, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court yesterday after they were arrested earlier this week.
The prosecution said the pair pulled up at the victim’s home with three other people in the early hours of Saturday morning and a gunshot was fired from their vehicle.
Three people then entered the house and assaulted the occupant, before stealing his Harley Davidson motorcycle and fleeing the scene.
The court heard a witness stated that Ratcliffe was one of the people who waited outside the house while the assault took place.
A vehicle believed to be linked to the incidents was located by police in Mount Gambier on Saturday afternoon and seized for forensic examination.
Three further vehicles have also been seized for examination.
The prosecution said ammunition was located in a vehicle, which belonged to Ratcliffe.
The stolen Harley Davidson was located by a member of the public at around 5pm on Monday in Glenburnie.
It was recovered and examined by crime scene investigators.
Von Stanke was arrested on Tuesday afternoon and charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass, discharging a firearm, aggravated assault causing harm and two counts of theft.
The arrest was made by officers from the Limestone Coast, State Tactical Response Group and STAR Group.
He made no application for bail and has been remanded for a charge determination date in March.
Ratcliffe was arrested at a residence in Mount Gambier on Wednesday and charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass, aggravated assault causing harm, discharging a firearm, two counts of theft and possess ammunition.
Magistrate Teresa Anderson ordered a home detention report for Ratcliffe and he will return to court in two weeks time.
A second incident which occured at Glencoe at around 12.15am on Saturday is still being investigated by police and is believed to be linked.
A group of people attended a Glencoe property and attempted to steal a motorcycle.
They were confronted by the occupants and left empty handed.
This incident was not reported to police until later in the morning and no charges have been laid in relation .
Limestone Coast detectives continue to make enquiries regarding outstanding offenders and further arrests are anticipated.
Limestone Coast Police acting officer in charge Operations Inspector Campbell Hill urged anyone with information to come forward.
“We believe there is a group of people within the Limestone Coast who have information about the people responsible and we ask them to come forward,” he said.
“Police cannot be of great assistance without the help from the community.”
Police said the community should be reassured that this was not a random incident, with the people involved suspected to be known to each other.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact the police assistance line on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
