THREE men accused of being involved in a "co-ordinated" series of armed hold-ups targeting three Muswellbrook bottle shops on Friday night, have been granted bail, with one accused robber telling police he was pig hunting at the time.
Joshua Smith, 27, Thomas Riordan and Riley Rodden, both 18, are alleged to have been part of a group captured on CCTV at the three bottle shops with their faces covered and armed with a hammer and a knife.
Police say the group first targeted the Liquorland at Rutherford Road about 7.45pm before using a silver ute to drive to the Prince of Wales Hotel, in Sydney Street, and then to the Ice Box Liquor, off Bridge Street.
Each time, they threatened staff with weapons and left with cases of beer, spirits and pre-mixed drinks.
Prosecutors opposed bail, labelling the armed robberies "organised and co-ordinated group attacks" on a number of businesses.
"There were threats of violence and the production of weapons against shopkeepers who were simply at work trying to do their job," a police prosecutor said.
Hunter Valley police set up crime scenes at the three bottle shops and launched an investigation.
Police say they found the ute used in the robberies at a home in Sydney Street at Muswellbrook about 8am on Sunday and arrested Rodden.
He was charged with being an accessory after the fact to the three robberies and not disclosing the identity of the driver.
He appeared in a bail division court on Monday and was released on a number of conditions, including reporting to police, a curfew, non-association with other members of the group and a condition that he not enter any licensed premises.
Police on Monday raided two homes at Scone and one at Moobi, allegedly seizing a hammer, knife, clothing and alcohol.
Smith and Riordan were arrested during the raids and were later charged with two counts of armed robbery and robbery in company.
Police allege the pair were among those who went into the bottle shops with their faces covered and armed with weapons, while Riordan is accused of "shoulder charging" one of the victims.
Riordan appeared in court on Tuesday from Muswellbrook police station and applied for bail, his lawyer Rebecca McGrath arguing he had just turned 18, had a potential intellectual disability and had full-time work and the support of his family.
Acting Judge Paul Fernon said that despite the "very serious nature of the offences" he was prepared to grant him bail on a number of conditions, including a curfew and non-association orders.
Smith also applied for bail, his solicitor Alison Nowland telling Acting Judge Fernon the allegations were "strongly denied" and the 27-year-old had raised an alibi with police.
Ms Nowland said identification would be an issue and said it was not a strong prosecution case against Smith, with nothing found at his house during the police search linking him to the robberies.
She said Smith admitted sending messages to members of the group, telling them to "lay low and not hand themselves in".
"He says to police in his interview, I am not involved in it," Ms Nowland said.
"I did say that, but that was in reference to them.
"It had nothing to do with me."
Ms Nowland said Smith had also questioned why he would commit the robberies when he was "earning such good money" as a caretaker at a stable.
"The strength of the case has got some issues, in terms of identification," Ms Nowland said.
"The search of the premises yielded nothing and while there is reference to several witnesses identifying him, the person on CCTV has their face covered and there is nothing about their stature that is capable of identifying clearly that this is Mr Smith."
Acting Judge Fernon granted bail, finding the police prosecutor's concerns could be addressed with strict conditions.
The trio will next appear in Newcastle Local Court in September.
Police investigations continue and anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
