as
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Two men accused of bashing and attempting to kill a man over "drugs, cash and a mobile phone" will face the Launceston Supreme Court in March, while another accused offender remains at large.
Sammual Clinton Wilmot, 23, of Waverley, and Jake Douglas Herlihy, 18, of Prospect, have pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder and aggravated robbery of Alexander Robert Friend.
It is alleged Mr Friend was assaulted with a wooden chair leg at a house in Waverley last week.
The 48-year-old Prospect man was found on a road in the Launceston suburb just after midnight Wednesday, suffering injuries to his face and body.
Two people driving by saw him on the corner of Naroo Street and the Tasman Highway and contacted police.
His car was then found about 400 metres away from him, abandoned in Waverley Lake, with police receiving reports from members of the public about a ute in the water.
Police divers searched the lake on Thursday and detectives examined a nearby Waverley unit on Friday.
The four accused were later charged.
Mr Wilmot and Mr Herlihy appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon, along with a third accused attacker, Clinton Charles Wilson.
Mr Wilson, 25, of Rocherlea, did not apply for bail and did not enter a plea.
He was remanded by Magistrate Sharon Cure to reappear on Friday at 2.15pm.
Both Mr Wilmot and Mr Herlihy applied for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution and refused by Ms Cure.
They were remanded in custody and committed for trial.
Both men will appear in the Launceston Supreme Court for a directions hearing on March 13.
The back of the court was full of supporters, with some calling out “love you, brother” and “keep your chin up” as Ms Cure sent each of the three men back into custody.
A fourth man, Corey Mitchell Gesler, was also mentioned, but did not appear.
The court heard the 24-year-old Turners Marsh man had also been charged over the alleged attack, but had not been found by police, with a warrant out for his arrest.
A 17-year-old girl from Kings Meadows appeared earlier in the day, charged alongside the four men, but cannot legally be identified because she is underage.
All five accused are jointly-charged with the attempted murder and aggravated robbery of Mr Friend.
The victim remained in a serious condition at the Launceston General Hospital on Monday afternoon.
After the alleged attack, police said Mr Friend had suffered fractures to his eye sockets, nose, jaw and ribs.