A GROUP of Wodonga residents have admitted to a terrifying home invasion involving guns, balaclavas and a cattle prod where an elderly couple were tied up in front of their son.
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The Asian couple were bound with cable ties, rope and electrical tape, and the woman threatened with rape at gunpoint in front of her son.
One of the five people involved in the incident had pulled down the victims’ pants and underwear, unloaded and reloaded a .308 rifle, and pointed it at the woman’s head before threatening her with rape.
Five victims were involved in the incident on April 17 last year, which involved the use of the cattle prod to keep them under control and blows from the butt of the gun.
While the group involved had travelled nearly 500 kilometres from Wodonga to Robinvale to target the group – having heard they had a lot of cash – the violent offence only netted about $5000 worth of goods.
The guns, balaclavas and stolen items were recovered during a raid at Trudewind Road in Wodonga last May, along with a meth lab.
Kia Toumngeun, Stephen White and Mac Sikoulabout have entered guilty pleas to their involvement and are awaiting sentence in Mildura.
A fifth person is yet to be located.
The information came to light in Wodonga Magistrates Court this week following the arrest of Narelle Carter.
Police allege Carter had been at the Trudewind Road home when the plan was hatched and travelled with the co-offenders, and spent a stint driving the group.
She has allegedly admitted being present at the location and hearing conversations before the home invasion, but said she didn't know what was occurring during the offence.
She had allegedly previously fired one of the guns used in the home invasion.
Carter is yet to enter a plea.
She applied for bail after her arrest on Wednesday.
The court heard she was already on three counts of bail and there were concerns she was “currently in the grips of a drug addiction”.
Magistrate Stella Stuthridge said the charges were serious.
“These matters are so serious, I’m going to refuse you bail,” she said.
Carter will return to court for other matters on February 20.
A committal mention for the new charges will be held on March 20.