Trial for Vic restaurant siege accused

ABIJATH Desikan, of no fixed address, faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of assaulting the victim and detaining her against her will.

Police allege he walked into a Southbank restaurant on April 5, took a staff member hostage at knifepoint and barricaded himself and the victim in a storeroom for eight hours.

The armed robbery charge relates to Desikan's alleged use of a chef's knife to gain keys and security access to the property.

When asked to enter a plea on Monday, Desikan told Magistrate Luisa Bazzani via video link: "I am not going to enter a plea right now."

Magistrate Bazzani said she would assume a not guilty plea and Desikan was committed to stand trial in the Victorian County Court on a date to be fixed.

Desikan, in his mid-30s, will also face court on Tuesday for a directions hearing.

Source: The Australian / AAP, 21^st September 2015
Originally published as: Trial for Vic restaurant siege accused