Robbery and Serious Crimes Squad detectives have charged a third man following an investigation into an alleged armed robbery and assault in Newcastle in 2024.
About 4am on Wednesday 28 February 2024, a 50-year-old man, who was the manager of a hotel on Union Street, Cooks Hill, was threatened and detained by two unknown men armed with a machete and baseball bat before being forced to open the door to the hotel.
At the same time a 68-year-old man, employed as a cleaner for the hotel, was allegedly assaulted by a third unknown man waiting outside in a vehicle.
The three unknown men left the location a short time later in the vehicle with an amount of cash from the hotel.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and found the 68-year-old man unconscious.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before he was taken to hospital in a serious condition, while the 50-year-old man was uninjured.
A crime scene was established by local police before detectives from State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crimes Squad commenced an investigation under Strike Force Krichauff.
Two men – aged 32 and 37 – have been charged and have had their matters finalised by the courts.
Following extensive inquiries – including an appeal for information, about 7.35am yesterday (Monday 14 September 2026) strike force detectives arrested a 30-year-old man at a home on Skilton Avenue, Maitland.
He was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon, reckless grievous bodily harm - in company, possess unauthorised pistol and possess unauthorised firearm.
The 30-year-old man was refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Local Court 2 yesterday, where he was formally refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 11 November 2026.
