Police at the Commonwealth Hotel after last month's armed robbery. Picture by Peter LorimerThe scene outside the hotel yesterday. Picture by Peter LorimerDetectives and forensic police at the Commonwealth Hotel after an employee was injured in an armed robbery and cash was stolen. Pictures by Peter Lorimer
Detectives and forensic police at the Commonwealth Hotel after an employee was injured in an armed robbery and cash was stolen. Pictures by Peter LorimerForensic police dusted the courtesy bus outside the Commonwealth Hotel at Cooks Hill for fingerprints. Picture by Peter LorimerForensic police at the scene of the armed robbery at Cooks Hill. Picture by Peter LorimerThe crime scene extended to King Street, where a man was found injured. Picture by Peter LorimerForensic police and detectives were at the scene of the armed robbery at Cooks Hill. Picture by Peter LorimerThe crime scene extended to King Street, where a man was found injured. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice near the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerForensic police examined the crime scene at Cooks Hill on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerForensic police examined the crime scene at Cooks Hill on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerForensic police examined the crime scene at Cooks Hill on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice and paramedics performed CPR on a man found injured on King Street. Picture by Marina NeilPolice at the scene on King Street on February 28. Picture by Marina NeilPolice at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerForensic police combed the scene at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerUnion Street at King Street was closed on the morning of February 28 due to the police operation.Evidence markers at the King Street and Union Street intersection in Newcastle West. Picture by Marina NeilPolice at the scene on King Street on February 28. Picture by Marina NeilPolice at the scene at the intersection of Union Street and King Street on February 28. Picture by Marina NeilPolice at the scene on King Street on February 28. Picture by Marina NeilPolice at the scene on King Street on February 28. Picture by Marina NeilPolice combed the scene at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice at the scene at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerShoes outside the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerForensic police combed the scene at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerForensic police combed the scene at the Commonwealth Hotel on February 28. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice operation on King Street at about 7am. Picture by ACMPolice operation at Cooks Hill. Picture by ACMPolice operation at Cooks Hill. Picture by ACMPolice operation at Cooks Hill. Picture by ACMPolice operation at Cooks Hill. Picture by ACM
TWO men who allegedly held up the Commonwealth Hotel, stealing more than $120,000 and leaving a cleaner in hospital, were targeting a second licensed premises in the days before they were arrested, detectives allege.
John Jerrett, 37, of Mayfield, and 28-year-old Marley Tiopira, of Cameron Park, are accused of being armed with a machete and a baseball bat when they forced their way into the popular Cooks Hill pub about 4.45am on February 28.
The pair allegedly made a hotel manager move around on his knees and open safes before fleeing with $124,456.
A cleaner was allegedly assaulted during the armed robbery and suffered a medical episode. He was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition but has since made a full recovery, police have said.
But he has since been charged with the armed carjacking of a man at Newcastle in the early hours of February 24 - four days before the Commonwealth Hotel robbery - as well as conspiring to rob a second licensed premises with Tiopira in the days before he was arrested.
According to court documents, the pair conspired to target a second pub between March 4 and when Jerrett was arrested on March 6.
Jerrett did not appear in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday when his matter was mentioned and prosecutors revealed he had also now been charged with twice damaging a glass sliding door at Mayfield Centrelink in December last year and driving while disqualified and custody of a knife on the day of his arrest.
Jerrett has not entered any pleas and remains behind bars. He will next appear in court on May 29 to see whether detectives have served a brief of evidence.
