Elderly man is in a critical condition after he was ‘threatened by a samurai sword-wielding duo on a violent crime spree’
- Man and woman have been charged after alleged violent crime spree on Friday
- Offences include two armed robberies and home invasion, police said on Sat
- Elderly man was transported to hospital after he was allegedly serious assaulted
An elderly man has been left in a critical condition after he was allegedly threatened by a man and woman wielding a samurai sword during a violent crime spree.
The duo were charged following two alleged armed robberies and a home invasion in the Townsville area on Friday afternoon and evening.
The offending allegedly began when a taxi driver picked up a man and two women from a venue on Charters Towers Road and drove them to Pallarenda, a beachside suburb of Townsville.
Police allege the male passenger asked the 25-year-old taxi driver to get out of the car but he refused.
An elderly man has been left in a critical condition after he was allegedly threatened by a man and woman wielding a samurai sword during a violent crime spree
The man then allegedly punched the driver in the face and a female passenger produced a knife from the backseat, forcing the driver to flee the car.
After the hijack, the trio drove away along Cape Pallarenda Road before abandoning the vehicle at Jezzine Barracks a short time later.
At 9.30pm, a 23-year-old had parked his car at a gym carpark in Hyde Park when he was allegedly approached by a man who threatened him with a samurai sword.
The man then allegedly drove away with the victim’s car and a female passenger.
Police say they saw the same vehicle driving along Palmerston Street, with the male driver waving a samurai sword out the window.
They tried to stop the car in its tracks but it sped away.
Police continued to pursue the vehicle until it allegedly crossed a medium strip and drove on the wrong side of the road.
At about 10pm the car was allegedly driven into vacant land at Cranbrook and the passengers fled.
A 23-year-old man and 20-year-old woman will appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on Saturday
A search of the area was immediately launched by police and they received reports a man attempted to barricade himself inside a house.
Officers forced entry into the home and found a 69-year-old with critical injuries.
They will allege the elderly man, who did not know the man and woman, was a victim of serious assault.
He was transported to hospital with multiple head injuries as well as other injuries.
Police took the man and woman into custody where they have since been charged.
A 23-year-old man has been charged with armed robbery, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, grievous bodily harm, common assault, dangerous operation of a vehicle, enter dwelling with intent and wilful damage.
A 20-year-old woman has been charged with armed robbery, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, grievous bodily harm, wilful damage and enter dwelling with intent.
They will both appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on Saturday.
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