Forensic police at the scene of the armed robbery at Cooks Hill. Picture by Peter LorimerPolice at the Commonwealth Hotel after last month's armed robbery. Picture by Peter LorimerThe scene outside the hotel yesterday. Picture 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 LorimerDetectives 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 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
CAMERON Park man Marley Tiopira has become the second person charged over an armed robbery at the Commonwealth Hotel last month that left a cleaner seriously injured.
He was arrested in Cooks Hill on Wednesday night and represented by solicitor Cameron Duncan when his matter was mentioned briefly in Newcastle Local Court on Thursday.
Mr Tipoira did not enter any pleas to charges of armed robbery, reckless grievous bodily harm in company and conspiracy to commit armed robbery and the matter was adjourned until May.
Mr Tipoira, who is on a conditional release order, did not apply for bail, but Mr Duncan said he would be applying for his client to be released on conditional bail at a later date.
He has not entered any pleas and was refused bail to re-appear in Newcastle Local Court in May.
Emergency services were first called to the Commonwealth Hotel after reports two men - one wielding a machete and the other a baseball bat - forced their way in and confronted two workers.
Police rushed to the scene and had to perform CPR on one of the hotel's staff members after they were found seriously injured on King Street after trying to flee.
It's understood the employee had been beaten up and suffered a medical episode, and was rushed to John Hunter Hospital. He has since made a full recovery, police said.
The second employee was shaken by the ordeal but not physically injured.
The Commonwealth Hotel reopened to the public 12 hours after the armed robbery.
"Our immediate concerns and thoughts are with the staff involved and their speedy recovery," a statement released at the time said.
Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000
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