Man allegedly threatened at knifepoint in ‘significantly savage beating’

They are both charged with robbery with an offensive weapon, detaining with intent to demand money, intentionally causing injury and making a demand with a threat to inflict serious injury with a hammer.

Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit’s Detective Senior Constable Sarah Roberts told the court Cameron and Sebastian allegedly detained a 58-year-old man in their Shepparton house for seven hours overnight on March 6 and 7.

The man felt like he couldn’t leave because he was afraid of being assaulted, Det Sen Constable Roberts said.

At the beginning of the night, Sebastian and Cameron allegedly yelled at the man for “being a liar” after he made contradicting comments to someone he was on the phone to, before Sebastian allegedly punched him.

Later in the night, a third co-accused allegedly threatened to assault the man while holding a hammer if he didn’t hand over his phone and wallet.

The other co-accused, along with Cameron and Sebastian, allegedly verbally threatened the man again, to give them his wallet, phone and pin code, threatening to “rip out his teeth” if he didn’t.

Sebastian and the co-accused allegedly demanded access to the man’s $160,000 superannuation account later in the night.

When the man tried to walk to the front door to leave, Cameron allegedly grabbed him, threw him against the door and punched him for about one minute.

Sebastian then allegedly pushed the man in the shower, and made him wash the blood off his face and clothes.

The co-accused then allegedly held a knife against the man’s throat and demanded he agree to give them $250 a week for several months before he was allowed to leave.

The man needed surgery for some of his injuries, which included a broken and bloody nose, a large cut to his cheek, a “partially severed earlobe” and significant bruising and swelling to his face and head.

Det Sen Constable Roberts told the court the man initially didn’t want to tell police about the incident because he’d been “threatened at knifepoint” not to, and was “fearful he’ll be seriously injured or killed”.

The court was played four short videos police found on Sebastian’s phone, showing some of the man’s injuries and him washing his face in a sink.

Sebastian is also facing charges of using a firearm in a dangerous manner, using a firearm as a prohibited person and handling stolen goods, from incidents in Benalla from December 5 to 10, 2024.

Cameron’s defence solicitor Ian Michaelson said his client had never been in custody, had a stable address, a good bail history and was not the main alleged offender.

Sebastian’s defence solicitor Shana McDonald said her client had an intellectual disability, anxiety and ADHD, and would be more vulnerable in custody.

Ms McDonald said Sebastian had support ready for him in the community, including from the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Goulburn Valley Community Services and the Goulburn Valley Alcohol and Drug Service.

In refusing both of them bail, magistrate Simon Zebrowski said there was “no doubt” Cameron and Sebastian were involved in the “significantly savage beating of a defenceless person”.

He told Cameron and Sebastian they both needed to “dry out from ice”, before he considered bailing them.

Cameron and Sebastian will next face court in June.

The third co-defendant in the matter had been charged and remanded in custody.

He did not apply for bail and will also next face court in June.