8 December 2021

Table leg and eggs among items alleged burglar is accused of stealing

| Albert McKnight
ACT Courts

Kodie Athol White, 21, had his request for bail refused in the Canberra courts on Wednesday. Photo: Albert McKnight

An alleged burglar who hoped to be granted bail so he could be with his mum and “be happy” is accused of stealing random items from a Canberra home, including a table leg and eggs.

Court documents state a man returned to his apartment complex in Braddon on Tuesday (7 December) afternoon when he saw two men run towards him. Police allege they were Kodie Athol White and his co-accused.

White allegedly yelled, “give me your glasses”, and pointed a tree branch at him, but the man left the area.

Shortly afterwards, another man left his apartment complex to go on a run when the two accused allegedly approached him. White yelled, “give me that”, gesturing at the man’s phone while holding what police allege to be “a large stick”.

White allegedly threw the stick towards the man who ran back inside the apartment. He later left again and took photos of the two alleged accused walking away carrying items like a metal table leg, preacher bar and several bags.

Police arrived at the apartment block and found a unit had been broken into, with stolen items including a black and white photo of the Rat Pack, a metal table leg as well as eggs from the fridge.

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Cigarettes and a broken bottle of Monkey Shoulder whiskey that didn’t belong to the unit’s owner had been left behind, and there was blood splattered on a broken glass door.

When White was arrested, police found him with bags they allege contained a letter in the name of the woman whose unit had been broken into, as well as six eggs.

He appeared before Magistrate James Stewart in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday (8 December) to apply for bail, where he continued to talk to the court despite being repeatedly warned not to.

White said he was willing to comply with any condition, “just to get outside with my Mum”.

“There’s no point in lying anymore. I’m a grown man. I just wish to be with my mother and be happy,” he said.

“Sorry for interrupting you, your honour.”

He also said, “I’m trying to tell the truth for once” before appearing to argue with a custody officer.

“Kodie, you’re not helping yourself, “Magistrate Stewart warned him.

“Yeah, I’ll shut up, your honour,” White said.

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His defence lawyer asked for him to be granted bail, saying he wanted to contest the charges before the court. She noted he faces a hearing for other matters next week.

Magistrate Stewart said this was a strong prosecution case and that White had also made partial admissions in court, which complicated matters.

He refused bail and ordered a mental health report. White will next appear in court on 14 December.

His fresh charges include aggravated burglary, attempted theft and minor theft.

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