THE man previously accused of the daylight robbery of an elderly woman in a busy Tamworth car park has admitted to being an accessory after the incident.
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Samuel Glen Tighe, 21, was due to stand trial in Tamworth District Court on Monday charged with being the “principal offender in an aggravated robbery” of 79-year-old Ursula Bakker in 2013, but pleaded guilty to the alternative charge yesterday morning.
In front of family and friends of Mrs Bakker, the crown prosecutor requested Tighe be arraigned on the fresh indictment, following negotiations between both parties in recent days.
The court was told a person unknown to the officer-in-charge of the investigation robbed 79-year-old Ursula Bakker of a handbag and a wallet, containing a sum of money, banks cards and identification, and at the time of the robbery intentionally or recklessly inflicted actual bodily harm upon her, on December 12, 2013.
The 21-year-old admitted “knowing that the said person had committed the aforementioned offence and did
harbour, maintain and assist the said person”.
“Guilty,” Tighe stated during the arraignment.
Mrs Bakker was walking through the City Plaza car park about 4pm on the day in question when an unknown person grabbed her handbag and tried to flee.
During the brief struggle, Mrs Bakker fell to the ground and was seriously injured.
She was taken to Tamworth hospital where she remained for several weeks after suffering a bleed on the brain, a broken shoulder and eye socket, as well as other injuries.
Supported by family in court, Tighe admitted to being an accessory after the fact.
He has been on conditional bail to live outside of Tamworth since November 17 last year, when he was successfully released from custody by Justice Robert Hulme during a Supreme Court bail hearing.
Tighe had already spent several months in custody for the aggravated robbery charge after he was arrested a day after the incident and refused bail.
Yesterday, public defender Richard Wilson submitted a bail variation for Tighe to remain in Tamworth while the sentencing progresses.
He will remain under a curfew and report to police daily, an application which was not opposed by the crown “given the circumstances”.
“Given the necessity for him not only to see his solicitor and counsel ... I will grant the application,” Judge John North said.
Tighe will be sentenced later this month.
