Two allegedly stabbed in 'targeted' home invasion by Sydney teens

Two people were allegedly repeatedly stabbed and assaulted by Sydney teenagers during a home invasion in southern Canberra, which has been described as “targeted” and “fairly terrifying”.

Raven Pauga, an 18-year-old from Shalvey in NSW, was arrested over the allegations this week, while 18-year-old Lytrell Eneliko from Marayong, NSW, was taken into custody earlier this year.

A man and a woman were asleep at their home in Conder on the morning of 4 May 2024 when they were woken by repeated knocking on their front door, police say in court documents.

When the woman opened the door, a man in a face mask allegedly stabbed her four times in her arm and body with a kitchen knife.

She fell over as three more men allegedly entered her home with coverings over their faces and shouted, “Where’s the money?”

“There’s no money here. There’s nothing here,” the woman screamed.

It is alleged the intruders forced the male resident onto his bed where they repeatedly punched and kicked him before he was stabbed in the arm and leg.

The four intruders left, although one allegedly climbed onto the bonnet of the man’s car and stomped on its windscreen, while another smashed a window at the home before they fled in a car.

Police arrived shortly afterwards to find the man and woman covered in blood. They were taken to hospital where they needed lifesaving medical intervention.

Afterwards, officers collected Hungry Jack’s food wrappings from where it was believed the intruders’ car had been parked near the home.

The officers found security camera footage of five men and a Nissan X-Trail around this location just before the home invasion, as well as of five men and an X-Trail at Hungry Jack’s in Conder earlier that morning. This latter car was then allegedly linked to Mr Eneliko.

It is alleged Mr Eneliko stabbed the woman. Police raided his home in Sydney on 27 May and allegedly found a knife with bloodstains on it.

When they looked at his mobile phone, they also allegedly found a video of two men ‘play fighting’ in a McDonald’s in Greenway late on the night of 3 May 2024. These men wore the same clothing as two of the home invaders, who were seen on CCTV from the home.

Mr Eneliko, who is also known as Lytrell Faumui, was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to charges that include burglary, assault and intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm.

He was remanded in custody when he faced the ACT Magistrates Court that month.

It is alleged Mr Pauga joined in the burglary and smashed the car’s windscreen. Police were allegedly able to confirm his involvement after they took security camera footage of the home invasion to his school.

Mr Pauga, who allegedly wore part of his school uniform during the incident, was arrested in Sydney on Monday (1 July) and did not enter pleas to charges of burglary, damaging property, as well as joint commission assault and grievous bodily harm in court on Wednesday (3 July).

He did apply for bail with his lawyer, Legal Aid’s Lesley Jayasuriya, arguing that very strict bail conditions could mitigate the risks of his being released.

He said his client only turned 18 shortly before May 2024, and on the allegations of the case, he had a more limited involvement than his co-defendant did.

Prosecutor Henry Robinson, who opposed bail, described the home invasion as premeditated, brazen, “a targetted attack” and “relatively terrifying”. He also alleged Mr Pauga had “gang associations from Mount Druitt”.

Magistrate Robert Cook said it was serious for a young person to be placed into a custodial environment, but the serious nature of the allegations outweighed those considerations.

Mr Pauga’s bail was refused. Both of the defendants will face court again on 1 August.

The others involved in the alleged home invasion remain unidentified, but police are continuing their investigations.