A Good Samaritan came to his neighbour's aid to fight off two young men after they broke into a Lake Heights home and assaulted the men, a court has heard.
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Police allege the men were trying to steal a car when they allegedly became violent and attacked the victims on Boxing Day.
Coniston's Ryan Keegan, 22, was refused bail in Wollongong Local Court on Monday while his mate and co-accused is expected to appear on Tuesday.
Documents tendered to court said a man and a woman were sitting inside their home in Lake Heights when the man turned around to allegedly see Keegan and co-accused Deng Lual, 21, in the lounge room about 8pm on Sunday.
Lual was allegedly wearing a balaclava while Keegan did not have on a mask.
The homeowner yelled, "what are you doing here" to which police allege Lual said, "we want the car keys".
The homeowner refused to hand over the keys.
Lual allegedly punched the homeowner in the right side of his face and a scuffle broke out.
The man was able to escape and ran out of the house before yelling to his neighbours for help, with one responding to his call.
Once the man walked back inside the home, he saw the men allegedly opening kitchen drawers, while the woman had moved into the hallway.
The homeowner walked towards the men before Keegan allegedly started waving a black-handled 20cm knife in front of him.
The neighbour entered the home and the four men allegedly began fighting, with the neighbour sustaining a bleeding nose, the documents said.
Police allege the homeowner grabbed Keegan from behind and wrapped both his arms around him while the neighbour was grappling with Lual.
The homeowner wrestled Keegan and grabbed the blade of the knife in his left hand before Keegan allegedly moved the blade back and forth causing a deep laceration between the man's left thumb and pointer finger.
Lual broke free from the neighbour's grip before he went outside and allegedly jumped over the balcony before Keegan ran down the stairs.
The neighbour gave chase but stopped upon seeing the men flee along Grand View Parade.
Police arrived at the scene and started to patrol the area. A short time later officers found Keegan and Lual walking along Northcliffe Drive in Berkeley.
Both were arrested. Police allegedly observed Keegan with facial injuries and blood on his clothing.
The men were taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station.
Keegan was charged with aggravated break and enter to commit a serious indictable offence, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company and reckless wounding in company.
Police seized a balaclava from the balcony, a black and orange glove, a black-handled kitchen knife from the front lawn and two silver keys.
The documents said the homeowner had a graze to the right side of his abdomen, a long cut to his back, small cut above his eye, bruising on his chin, back and under his left arm; while the neighbour had a swollen bleeding nose and knee pain.
In court on Monday, police prosecutor Sergeant Ben Bragger said Keegan had a lengthy criminal history for violent offences and was serving a two-year community correction order.
Sgt Bragger said he could not "overstate how serious the allegations were", adding the prosecution case appeared strong.
Defence lawyer Laura Fennell said her client made some admissions to being inside the house but denied the allegations he brought or used the knife.
Ms Fennell said Keegan had re-established contact with his mother and there had been a growing dispute between his mother and a neighbour.
She said Keegan was at his mother's house on Boxing Day before he allegedly went to the neighbour's house.
She also said Keegan had a difficult childhood.
Registrar Darcy noted the allegations were serious, Keegan's last crime was in 2020 and refused to grant him bail.
The case was adjourned until January 10.
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