The horrific means harmless grandpa Chris Baghsarian was allegedly tortured earlier than his brutal dying in botched case of mistaken id
New details have revealed the shocking last moments of Chris Baghsarian’s life after he was allegedly kidnapped and murdered in a case of mistaken identity.
The 85-year-old grandfather was dragged from his bed in North Ryde, in Sydney‘s northwest, on February 13 and was dead within 48 hours.
Early reports indicated he was tortured before he died as his alleged kidnappers believed they were abducting Karo Stepanyan, the father of Dimitri Stepanyan, a wealthy property developer.
It’s now emerged Mr Baghsarian had his finger cut off with a handsaw, police will allege.
It’s unclear if Mr Baghsarian’s finger was cut off before or after he died, but police will allege the handsaw was found in a partially burnt-out Toyota Corolla in Westmead, alongside a discarded cigarette butt and blood-stained carpet.
The accused men allegedly tried to destroy it by setting it alight but were unsuccessful.
Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, faced Blacktown Local Court in Sydney’s west on Thursday over allegations they abducted and murdered the 85-year-old.
Andrews and Stevens are accused of killing him at a secluded home in Dural after demanding a $50million ransom while holding the wrong hostage.
Chris Baghsarian had a finger cut off after he was abducted from his house
Gerard Andrews, 29, had previously taken a year out of work for medical reasons, he posted
Daniel Stevens, 24, is pictured at his sister’s baby shower. He has been charged with the kidnap and murder of Mr Baghsarian
It was here, police allege, that Mr Baghsarian was exposed to a ‘prolonged period of extreme violence’.
Police allege the pair bought black tracksuit pants, T-shirts, and three black hoodies from K-mart in the days leading up to the abduction.
They faced Blacktown Local Court on Thursday where the court heard that police had obtained video evidence of a man demanding Mr Stepanyan’s phone number from Mr Baghsarian.
There are images of Mr Baghsarian having a gun pointed at his head.
In a video, a man is seen holding a curtain over Mr Baghsarian’s face, asking, ‘What is Dimmy and Dom’s numbers?’ – seemingly referring to Mr Stepanyan’s sons. Neither of the sons are accused of any wrongdoing.
The kidnappers have circulated video of Mr Baghsarian bloodied and tied up, gagged and lying on a carpeted floor covered in blood.
Mr Baghsarian was heard groaning in agony before the video abruptly ended.
His body was later dumped in a field next to a golf course at Pitt Town.
Andrews was arrested in a dawn raid at his family home
The body of the grandfather was found on a golf course in Pitt Town
Mr Baghsarian was taken from his North Ryde home and his body was found in Pitt Town
The development comes after the Daily Mail revealed Andrews is from an affluent Catholic family, lived in a lavish $5million mansion in Kenthurst, graduated from $18,000-a-year Redfield College, and claimed he was midway through a cybersecurity degree at the University of Technology.
In a bizarre twist, UTS has confirmed Andrews is not a student and there is no record of him undertaking training.
Stevens, an apprentice carpenter, was described by shocked former colleagues as polite and well-mannered. He had worked on construction projects until he was terminated from his job eight months ago for drink driving.
Just weeks ago, Stevens portrayed himself on social media as a doting uncle-in-waiting, sharing a picture of himself in a collared shirt and beige trousers at a baby shower for his pregnant sister.
‘Can’t wait to meet the little guy,’ he said.
Stevens and Andrews were charged with one count each of murder and taking/detaining Chris Baghsarian with intent to ransom, occasioning bodily harm.
Andrews’ lawyer Paul McGirr did not apply for bail in court on Thursday, telling reporters outside court that his client was ‘no mastermind’ in the alleged plot.
‘It’s a horrific set of facts that I’ve read in my experience as a police officer and defence lawyer, and I just have to remind myself that I have a job to do under these circumstances,’ he said.
Born in 1941 in Jaffa, Mr Baghsarian spent his childhood in Jerusalem before migrating to Australia in the 1960s.
