Christopher Charles Hudston: Alleged ‘instigator’ in brutal attack, robbery of Innaloo grandfather denied bail

A man accused of being the “instigator” and “driving force” of a terrifying home invasion in Innaloo that left a grandfather seriously injured faces a “fairly strong” case against him, a court has been told. Christopher Charles Hudston was allegedly part of a group of six people who forced entry into the 68-year-old’s King George Street home while he slept about 4am on July 23. The victim had to undergo facial surgery after being brutally bashed and had jewellery stolen. Details of an aggravated home burglary Mr Hudston allegedly committed with a co-accused in Alkimos the day prior were revealed when he fronted Perth Magistrates Court via videolink from Hakea Prison on Wednesday. The police prosecutor said the 36-year-old had been captured on CCTV in the areas wearing a distinctive “tactical-style vest”, which was found at his home when he was later arrested. There was also vision from Innaloo showing his tattoos and various footage of the pair driving near the two homes, he said. “There’s multiple images, your honour,” the prosecutor told Magistrate Angus Hockton. Mobile phone evidence against Mr Hudston included triangulation data confirming his location and text messages, he said. The officer said Mr Hudston sent one after the Alkimos robbery offering to sell a stolen necklace while a co-accused texted him before the Innaloo crime saying “It’s on Chris”. The prosecutor said there was a connection between the accused and the Innaloo victim. “I would suggest there is a fairly strong case against the accused,” he said. “The assertion is the accused was very much the instigator and driving force.” Mr Hudston’s defence lawyer, however, said that was mere assertion and it was “by no means a strong case”, with the quality of the CCTV footage yet to be seen. He also questioned the mobile phone tower triangulation data. The magistrate acknowledged that it was “not an exact science”. Opposing bail, the prosecutor said Mr Hudston had a “drug debt that needed to be paid off”, so he was motivated to commit more crimes. Mr Hockton said the case appeared “relatively strong” and he was not satisfied his proposed address for bail - Mr Hudston’s father’s home - was suitable. That was because he sometimes worked away and the accused needed more supervision. Mr Hudston, whose charges over the Innaloo incident include grievous bodily harm, will return to court on November 20. The victim’s neighbour Barry said his friend Tom was targeted as he wore a lot of gold jewellery. “He said there was six guys and one was armed with a shotgun. They went into his house and worked him and ripped off all his gold. “His face was all beaten. They headbutted him with the rifle.”