A man charged with allegedly raping a woman inside her Morwell home has been remanded in custody until September.
The 22-year-old Morwell man faced Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with the rape of a 20-year-old and intentionally and recklessly causing injury.
He was also charged with trespass and stealing a mobile phone.
Police said the incident took place in Morwell on Saturday at 2.15am.
He was remanded in custody and will face court again on September 22.
Stabbing suspect wanted
A man who stabbed a 43-year-old Traralgon man in his backyard at Traralgon on Monday is yet to be arrested.
Detectives said the man heard a suspicious noise in the backyard of his Stockdale Road home just after 11.45am.
The resident went to investigate the noise and found a man attempting to steal his BMX.
He confronted the offender who slashed him with a knife before leaving the property.
The man was taken to Latrobe Regional Hospital with a non-life threatening cut to his arm.
Police described the offender as a Caucasian man, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, with long dark hair and a dark goatee beard.
The man, who was wearing dark clothing, was last seen on Stockdale Road, Traralgon.
Anyone with information is asked to phone Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit on 5131 5000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Men charged with burglary
Four people have been arrested in relation to an aggravated burglary on a Bemm Drive, Morwell property last Thursday.
Police alleged one of the men broke into the house, stealing jewellery, personal items and an Audi. Later that day police arrested four males, including a 16-year-old Craigieburn, who was charged with aggravated burglary. The three other men, including an 18-year-old and 27-year-old from Morwell and a 22-year-old from Traralgon will face charges relating to proceeds from the burglary.
They will face Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in August.
The 16-year-old was remanded in custody and will face court in July.
Morwell house fire plea
Squatters are believed to be responsible for a deliberately-lit fire in a vacant house on Kerrie Street, Morwell.
Police this week issued an appeal for information about the fire which “completely engulfed” the house on April 3.
Detectives said the fire could have been lit by a cigarette because the house was a known place for squatters.
“Reporting people saw flames from the house from Commercial Road, Morwell and called the CFA,” Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Gerard Wursthorn said.
“Neighbours stated squatters were in the premises the previous day after the owner of the premises had been renovating for a period of six days.
“Structurally the house was deemed unsafe for the CFA to enter as the roof had collapsed.”
He said the fire started at the rear of the property.
Anyone with information is asked to phone Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit on 5131 5000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
Road fire
Detectives are investigating a suspicious fire in the middle of a Stirloch Circuit, near Rocla Road at Traralgon on Saturday night.
Police said it appeared an accelerant was used on the road which caused the fire to ignite.
Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Gerard Wursthorn said police believed the fire was caused by hoon driving.
“It appears the fire had been going for a while due to … the bitumen lifting up,” Detective Senior Constable Wursthorn said.
He said while the fire was put out with an extinguisher, hoon driving, particularly on Friday nights had been a problem in the area.
People with information about the fire, which occurred about 11.30pm, are asked to phone Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit on 5131 5000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
