A man who allegedly hid from police in the room of an elderly dementia patient at a Kialla nursing home has been granted bail.
Kuok Bol, 28, of St Albans, successfully applied for bail at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on February 25.
He is charged with home invasion, intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury, criminal damage and entering a private place without authority or excuse.
The court heard six men allegedly drove from Melbourne seeking out a man at a Kialla house, who fled over the back fence when they arrived.
Police informant Detective Senior Constable Luke Arrowsmith told the court Bol was one of six men who allegedly assaulted a man out the front of the house, resulting in multiple displaced teeth, cuts and bruises.
He said Bol and one of the co-accused used rocks to smash a window of the house, captured on video by a doorbell camera at the house.
Det Snr Constable Arrowsmith said Bol had a cut to his hand, which police allege happened during the assault, and bled throughout the house, with DNA testing yet to be completed.
He told the court Bol fled from police to a Kialla nursing home, breaking inside and into the room of a 93-year-old dementia patient.
In an interview with police following his arrest, Bol said he had no knowledge of the assault or home invasion and was walking alone when he saw police arrest some men nearby and ran.
Police opposed bail citing an unnecessary risk to the community and the fact Bol had been on bail at the time of the incident.
Bol’s lawyer said Bol had no prior criminal convictions and it could take two years for the case to go to trial.
He said there was no evidence that Bol had actually entered the house or taken part in the assault.
He told the court Bol had a history of substance abuse and mental health issues and could be supported by the Court Integrated Services Program while on bail.
Magistrate Peter Dunn granted bail under conditions including that he not associate with the co-accused, comply with a curfew, not use drugs and not enter Shepparton.