Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian was allegedly killed just one day after he was wrongly kidnapped – as it’s revealed the two men accused of his kidnapping and murder were offered a pittance

The two men charged with the murder and bungled kidnap of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian have faced court as a defence lawyer admitted his client was ‘no mastermind’.

Daniel Stevens, 24, and Gerard Andrews, 29, were arrested on Wednesday in early morning raids on their homes in Kenthurst and Castle Hill, in Sydney’s north-west, after police discovered Mr Baghsarian’s remains near a golf course the previous day.

The men appeared separately before Blacktown Local Court on Thursday morning, charged with taking/detaining Mr Baghsarian with intent to ransom, occasioning bodily harm and murdering him at Dural, NSW, between February 13 and 14.

Andrews appeared first on screen from custody in the same tatty Gucci t-shirt he wore when police humiliatingly arrested him with his jeans around his ankles.

He hung his head before speaking just one word in court when Magistrate Bree Chisholm asked him: ‘Can you see me on screen, Mr Andrews?’

‘Yes,’ Andrews replied.

His lawyer Paul McGirr didn’t apply for bail, and the former police officer told 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 

‘It’s not lost on me the sensitive nature of this particular matter for the victim’s family but I have a job to do, and it’s very hard at this moment for me to do that job having read the fact sheet.

‘These matters are extremely sensitive and in that particular respect, certainly from what I can gather, my client was no mastermind in respect to his involvement in this particular matter.

‘But we will wait for a brief and take it from there.’

Stevens then appeared before the court with his lawyer, Javid Faiz, telling the magistrate his client was suffering from shingles.

Mr Faiz said: ‘Mr Stevens requires some medication – he has shingles and since he has been in custody it’s affecting him and there’s a particular medication.’

Stevens added: ‘It’s just an antiviral, the shingles is not contagious anymore, it’s just that I haven’t showered,’ before asking for generic brand of the antiviral medication.

Mr Faiz sought a health assessment and requested the medication for his client, which was granted by the magistrate.

Police are still searching for others involved in the alleged kidnapping, with both Stevens and Andrews’ lawyers arguing they were not the ‘ringleaders’. 

It’s understood officers allegedly have a range of evidence tying the pair to apparent crime scenes.

One of the men’s DNA was allegedly discovered on duct tape found at Mr Baghsarian’s home.

Investigators also allegedly found DNA on a cigarette butt inside a torched car tied to the alleged plot, some of Mr Baghsarian’s clothing and a carpet from a Dural property where the grandfather was initially taken.

Prosecutors allege Andrews and Stevens agreed to carry out the kidnapping, which was allegedly advertised in an underworld chatroom on the dark web, in exchange for $30,000. 

The duo spoke in pig latin – a ‘secret code’ often used by children – while planning the alleged crime.

Police also allege the pair disposed of alleged evidence in a charity bin in Kellyville and park in Castle Hill.

Outside court Mr Faiz, Stevens’ lawyer, told reporters his client understood the ‘the nature and gravity of the allegations’ against him.

‘He’s taking the matter seriously,’ Mr Faiz said.

‘He is procedurally aware that this matter is going to take some time.

‘It’s a tragic incident there’s no doubt that this would have had an effect on the community. 

‘However as the matters are before the court, it’s not appropriate to make any further comment.’ 

Both men were denied bail with their matters adjourned to April 17 at Penrith Local Court.