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Victim calls Stoney Creek robbery ‘terrible, traumatic and pure evil’

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Two men apologized in court Tuesday for the brazen, daylight armed robbery of a Stoney Creek kitchen renovation store earlier this year.

On March 23rd, Azule Kitchens owners Ryan and Bethany Tilstra were in the shop with their newest employee. The victims were not in court.

The crown read Bethany’s impact statement which said, “I could not mentally and physically be here, due to seeing these men and having to face this terrible, traumatic and pure evil event in detail once again.”

Dwayne Bogle, Deosaran Persaud and a third man entered the kitchen store armed with a sledgehammer and two loaded handguns. They bound the two women with duct tape and Ryan Tilstra was hit on the head twice with the sledge.

“Being taped to the floor and watching three men continuously beat my husband with guns and a hammer was the worst feeling in the world. You are helpless,” Bethany wrote.

A neighbouring business noticed the disturbance and called police. The robbers fled and crashed their car, then all three were found hiding in separate storage containers.

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Bogle’s parents were in court, the 33-year-old man had no previous criminal record but was homeless and abusing alcohol after a failed relationship. He was pointing a gun during the robbery.

Persaud’s brother, mother and cousin were in court. Persaud had a previous armed robbery conviction, but it was 10 years ago. His lawyer says he has a gambling problem and had tried to rob Azule to pay a $5,000 bookie debt. He wielded the hammer.

The mandatory minimum sentence for armed robbery is five years, but the prosecution says this crime deserves a 10-12 year sentence. Both defence lawyers argued for the minimum.

Michael Hayden is the third offender who pleaded guilty in this armed robbery. He’s in court January 10 for a sentencing hearing. That same day Bogle and Persaud will learn how much time they’ll spend in the penitentiary.

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