A vicious axe attack at Koonawarra that left two men with head wounds was carried out in retaliation for an earlier confrontation, a court has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Police allege five men – two armed with large axes and three with tomahawks – forced their way inside a Gareema Avenue house just before 8 o’clock on the evening of September 18 and violently attacked the home’s occupants, two of whom later required hospital treatment.
It is alleged the perpetrators had been prompted to carry out the home invasion as revenge for a physical altercation between one of the group’s members and one of the residents earlier in the day.
Police arrested one of the alleged attackers, Dylan Clulow, on Tuesday morning after a two-week investigation.
He faced Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday charged with special aggravated break and enter with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, as well as two counts of aggravated robbery stemming from a separate incident three days later.
Documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday said Clulow was accompanied by four other men when he stormed the home of the victims and confronted them about the earlier attack.
“Who hit my mate today?” Clulow allegedly said while standing over one of the victims.
Three of the attackers swung their weapons at those inside the house but did not connect, however a 20-year-old man was unable to dodge one of the tomahawks and was hit in the lower left cheek and jaw.
A second man, aged in his 40s, was also hit with a weapon during the melee, causing injuries to his face and ribs.
It is alleged Clulow was last seen running down the driveway to a waiting Holden Commodore.
Both injured men were taken to hospital for treatment.
Meantime, it is alleged Clulow was involved in an unrelated robbery three days later in which two men were repeatedly punched before being forced to hand over their wallets, phones and the keys to one of their cars.
Both men subsequently made statements to police, with one positively identifying Clulow as his attacker via a photographic identification parade.
Clulow sought release on bail during his court appearance on Wednesday, with defence lawyer Jack Hibbard saying his client would agree to house-arrest style bail conditions.
However, Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim found Clulow had not shown cause why he should be released on bail.
He noted Clulow had a lengthy criminal record and found he would pose an unacceptable risk to the safety of the victims and the community if he was released.
Clulow will return to court next month.
