A Dapto teenager is accused of holding a knife to the throat of a former “brother” and robbing him of thousands of dollars in cash and drugs.
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Kyle Roberts, 18, denies the allegations. He spent his first night behind bars in the wake of a home invasion at a property on Guligal Road, Dapto, on Wednesday.
Police say Roberts arrived at the home on a dirt bike about 1.30pm, kicked a parked car and performed a series of burnouts in a bid to bring the occupant - a one-time friend - outside.
He allegedly then walked to the front door and kicked it in, produced a large hunting knife and held it to the throat of his victim, telling him, “give me all your money”.
“I don’t have any,” the teen allegedly replied.
“If you don’t give me all your money, I will kill you.”
“What are you doing? I thought we were meant to be brothers.”
“I did too, until you told Jarrod.”
Roberts sought bail at Wollongong Local Court on Thursday.
His solicitor, Matthew Barnes, told the court his client visited the home on Wednesday in search of another teen, after “an argument arose over a girl, as 18-year-olds can do”.
Mr Barnes said Roberts arose to work at a scaffolding company each morning at 6am, did as much overtime as he could and “in all respects was doing well in life”.
“In his own words, he’s got no beef with this victim. He certainly didn’t put a knife to his throat,” he said.
Police allege Roberts departed the Guligal Road home on a dirt bike after collecting a bag belonging to the victim and telling him “if you tell the cops about this I’ll be back”.
The victim called police and was “visibly shaken” when they arrived.
Roberts was arrested at his Compton Street home a short time later, allegedly pointing police to a bag containing a large knife and to the victim’s bag, which held more than half a kilogram of cannabis with a street value of up to $3500.
One early point of contention in the case is money. Roberts says there was none in the bag; his alleged victim claims $2000 is missing.
Magistrate Abdul-Karim ultimately granted Roberts bail, noting his youth, clean criminal history and the long time – likely more than a year – it will take for the case to come to trial.
The matter returns to court on August 16.