A man told police in an video interview that he saw a double-barrel, sawn-off shotgun put in his car on the night of a robbery in Heather Street, South Launceston in 2019.
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Wayne Keith Herlihy, 52, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary and aggravated armed robbery about 9pm on May 25.
The Crown's case is that Mr Herlihy either aided the robbery or was part of a common purpose with other perpetrators and has argued that he is criminally responsible.
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His niece Kylie Herlihy told the jury on Tuesday that Mr Herlihy had known about the plan.
In the interview Mr Herlihy told police he drove Kylie Herlihy and a man he had met before but whose name he did not know and two minors from Newnham to Summerhill and then to Heather Street on the night of the robbery.
Mr Herlihy told police that he had stolen cash from the Heather Street home of Ronald Peck in 2018.
He said that he told Kylie Herlihy in the days before the robbery that he believed Mr Peck had cash in his house.
He drove her and the male past to show them the house.
On the night of the robbery he said he had seen a sawn-off double barrel shotgun covered in a blanket when the male got into the car.
He said he had popped the boot so the male could put the firearm in.
Mr Herlihy told police that Kylie wanted money for a hit (drugs).
He said he sat in the car with the minors when Ms Herlihy and the male went into the house.
When she came back to the car she had blood on her knuckles.
"They were as red as a beetroot, I think she may have done it, punched him about," he said.
"She said they bashed him."
"They did the worst thing they could ever do, it shouldn't have happened bashing an an old fellow and taking his money... I was only the driver," he said.
Mr Herlihy said Kylie was holding cash which was in a bucket and he had to pop the boot.
The money had been counted at his house and he believed it was about $180.
He said he had not received any money.
"She said she would give me some later," he said.
Mr Herlihy said that he was aware Kylie and a male had tried to rob Mr Peck earlier the same day.
"She said she had to go and finish the job," he said.
Asked by detectives if he wanted to add anything he said: "I'm very sorry for what happened, I was only the driver it shouldn't have turned out the way it did".
Crown prosecutor Jody Dennison and defence counsel Todd Kovacic and Justice Robert Pearce will make closing addresses before the jury retires to consider its verdict.
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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.
