A third man has been charged with the murder of Sydney man Chris Baghsarian after allegedly kidnapping the 85-year-old last month in a case of mistaken identity.
On Wednesday morning police announced they had arrested a further two people – a man and a woman both aged 23 – after detectives and tactical operations officers executed a search warrant in the Sydney suburb of Seven Hills at about 6.30am.
The man, Deklan Jake Donnelly, was later charged with murder and taking or detaining in company with intent to ransom, occasioning actual bodily harm. He was also charged with possessing a firearm, three counts of supplying a prohibited drug and failure to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.
“Police will allege in the court the man was one of the principal offenders involved in facilitating the kidnapping, detention and disposal of Mr Baghsarian,” police said in a statement.
Two men – Daniel Stevens, 24, and Gerard Andrews, 29 – were charged in February with murder and taking or detaining in company with intent to ransom, occasioning actual bodily harm.
Police allege Baghsarian was kidnapped from his North Ryde home on 13 February in a case of mistaken identity. His body was dumped near a golf club at Pitt Town days later, police allege, but was not found until 24 February.
Jenessa Thurston was arrested along with Donnelly on Wednesday. She was not charged over the alleged murder of Baghsarian but was charged with allegedly breaching an apprehended domestic violence order.
Police said in a statement about charging the pair: “During a search of the property, police located and seized a firearm, firearm parts, ammunition, four mobile phones including a DECCD, and a substantial amount of prohibited drugs.”
Thurston appeared before Blacktown local court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty. Her community corrections order for a prior offence was revoked, and she was sentenced to 10 months in prison.
Earlier this month, police released CCTV footage of three men they wanted to speak to in relation to the alleged kidnapping and murder.
The footage showed three men walking towards what police alleged was the kidnappers’ “stronghold” at Dural, in north-western Sydney, on the night Baghsarian went missing, and a blue Hyundai sedan with a missing hubcap that police believe visited the house where Baghsarian was held captive.
Stevens and Andrews remain before the courts.
Donnelly was remanded in custody and will appear before Blacktown local court on Thursday.
The investigation continues.
