A 75-year-old West Launceston man was hit with a shotgun barrel by a 21-year-old man because of a rumor that he had cash in the house, the Supreme Court in Launceston heard on Thursday.
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Crown prosecutor Luke Brett told the court that Harley Luke Sturzaker and Kylie Marie Herlihy, 37, entered the man's home twice on the one day.
Sturzaker, of Rocherlea, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated burglary, stealing and aggravated armed robbery.
The court heard that the victim lived alone in Heather St when Sturzaker, Herlihy and accomplices entered the property about 1.30pm.
Sturzaker was armed with a sawn-off double barrel shotgun.
They stole prescription medications and threatened the man and demanded money.
After they had left the property Herlihy and Sturzaker and another man formed a plan to go back to the house and look for money.
Sturzaker took the weapon which he loaded with two blank cartridges and they travelled in a third man's car.
He put a cover over his head and kicked open the door of the man's house.
He pointed the loaded shotgun at the man while Herlihy searched the house.
He struck him several times with the shotgun barrel while yelling and demanding money.
They took two wallets containing about $450 and foreign coins.
They left the man bleeding on the lounge room floor of his house with injuries serious enough to keep him in hospital for five days.
Mr Brett said Sturzaker had been a principal offender although the plan had initially been made by Herlihy.
A police investigation found a fingerprint in the house which led to the arrest of a perpetrator and a cigarette butt found near the backdoor had the DNA of Herlihy.
Mr Brett said the robbery was aggravated by several factors including that it was premeditated, that they were in company and that Sturzaker was armed and disguised.
"The complainant was particularly vulnerable because he lived alone and was elderly," he said.
Mr Brett said revictimisation, the entering of the home on multiple occasions, was a serious aggravating factor.
He said the assault had been prolonged and extreme causing injury and emotional trauma.
"Initially he showed no remorse leaving the man injured, he lied to police about his role and he has not told police where the firearm is," Mr Brett said.
Mr Brett urged that there was sentencing parity with Herlihy who pleaded guilty last year and was sentenced to four years and three months jail.
Sturzaker was on methylamphetine at the time. sibJustice Pearce will sentence on Friday at 2.15pm.
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Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
