THE man accused of a terrifying robbery of an elderly woman’s handbag in a Tamworth car park has been ordered to stand trial.
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Samuel Glen Tighe remains behind bars accused of the daylight armed robbery on December 12 last year, which left a woman with serious injuries as a result of the struggle.
Tighe’s solicitor Fiona Hadlington told Tamworth Local Court yesterday, the 21-year-old was waiving his right to a committal hearing, and instead was headed straight for trial.
The waiver saw the defence abandon its previous intention for a section 91 application to call witnesses to give evidence.
In the last appearance in court in June, Ms Hadlington said the defence was subpoenaing the triple-zero calls and CCTV footage relating to an incident on the day in question involving Tighe in Tamworth Shoppingworld.
Tighe was arrested just a day after the alleged incident and will fight the charge.
The alleged robbery occurred about 4pm when the victim was walking through the car park of City Plaza, off White St, when she was confronted.
Seventy-nine-year-old Ursula Bakker resisted before she fell to the ground and suffered a bleed on the brain, a broken shoulder and eye socket as well as other injuries.
The serious nature of the injuries left Mrs Bakker in hospital for several weeks before she was released.
Prosecutors allege Tighe, who is being housed in Long Bay Correctional Centre in Sydney, fled the scene with the handbag.
DPP solicitor Mark Ferguson tended a brief of evidence in court yesterday before Tighe was committed.
“I order the accused person to be committed for trial in the District Court of Tamworth,” Magistrate Michael Holmes told the court.
A trial date will be set after the case heads to the district court next month.
Tighe remains bail refused.