TWO women arrested in Newcastle and charged in connection to a violent home invasion in Armidale have fronted court.
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The Leader can reveal Kara Jane Symington and Aliethea Cutmore were arrested in a joint operation by investigators from Strike Force Inga and police in Newcastle.
Strike Force Inga was launched to investigate a series of robberies and home invasions in Armidale earlier this year, and Symington and Cutmore had been wanted by detectives probing a violent home invasion in MacDonald Dr in Armidale in the early hours of September 5.
Four offenders allegedly forced entry to a home, armed with firearms, threatened a man and woman who were home with their infant, and fled shortly after with cash and jewellery.
Symington and Cutmore are facing a charge of special aggravated breaking and entering, and committing a serious indictable offence.
Symington is also charged with a further count of dealing with property being suspected proceeds of crime, after she was allegedly found in possession of jewellery that was suspected of being stolen from the home.
Symington remains behind bars after she was refused bail twice in the local court, and also failed in her bid for release in the NSW Supreme Court in late December.
Cutmore, who is on conditional bail, appeared in Armidale Local Court this week, where the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was successful in securing an adjournment to compile further evidence.
“This is quite a complex matter,” DPP solicitor Ben Barrack said. “There are six or seven co-accused.”
Mr Barrack told Magistrate Karen Stafford that a request for information from a telephone carrier was made a week ago.
But Ms Stafford put the DPP on notice to have the full brief of evidence served by December 9 or the matter could push ahead without all the items.
“Under the Criminal Procedures Act, if it’s in for reply it can go to a committal on the basis of a flimsy brief,” she said.
“I’d like something substantial to happen before I leave Armidale. I’m here on the 21st of December even if the DPP isn’t.”
Two other men charged in connection to the home invasion on September 5 remain bail-refused.
