Dr Michael Yung, Adelaide: Couple Kerem Aydin and Jacinta Davila, accused of bashing respected surgeon to death in home invasion are taken down by police while pushing their baby in a pram
A couple accused of bludgeoning a respected surgeon to death during a home invasion were arrested at a busy shopping center along with their eight-month-old baby.
The footage shows 22-year-old Kerem Aydin being wrestled to the ground by plainclothes police at Torrensville Plaza, in Adelaide’s west, at about 7.30pm on Tuesday.
His partner Jacinta Davila, 27, is then seen running from the square pushing their eight-month-old baby in a stroller. before she is also arrested by heavily armed officers from the Special Forces and Rescue Squad.
They are accused of breaking into the $2 million Gilberton home of 61-year-old Dr. Michael Jung at about 4:20 a.m. Monday, where they allegedly beat him to death.
The Thebarton couple appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with murder, aggravated criminal assault and robbery by force.
Aydin appeared in court with bandages over her swollen and bruised eye as Davilla sobbed through her ears.
Police allege the pair stole a first aid kit from Drake’s supermarket in the square to treat Aydin shortly before his arrest.
Kerem Aydin, 22, and Jacinta Davila, 27 (pictured), have been charged with the alleged murder of Dr Michael Jung.
Meanwhile, Dr Jung’s devastated loved ones paid tribute to the intensive care pediatrician, calling him a “loving and beloved father, son, brother, uncle and cousin”.
“We are all absolutely devastated by Michael’s death. His death has left a hole in our hearts that will never be filled,” the family said in a statement.
“Michael was a knowledgeable, experienced and compassionate pediatric critical care specialist.
“He dedicated his life to caring for and treating seriously ill children and their families during their most vulnerable time.”
Loved ones say Dr Jung’s selfless dedication to the children he treated and their families extended not only throughout South Australia, but across the country and overseas.
The pair are accused of breaking into the $2 million Gilberton home of 61-year-old Dr Michael Jung (pictured) around 4.20am on Monday, where they allegedly beat him to death.
CCTV footage from outside Torrensville Plaza, in Adelaide’s west, showed the couple being arrested by specialist police while they were with their eight-month-old baby.
Jacinta Davila (left) and Kerem Aydin (right) are pictured outside the court on Wednesday.
During his extensive career, Dr. Jung opened a pediatric intensive care unit in Kilifi, Kenya, worked in remote indigenous communities, and was “a wise and patient teacher and mentor to generations of aspiring critical care physicians.”
His family said he organized Katherine Brown-Yung Foundation a charity – in the name of his late wife, who died suddenly three years ago – which supports scholarships for Indigenous medical students.
Dr. Jung’s loved ones invited anyone who wanted to remember Dr. Jung to contribute to the fund.
The heartfelt tribute comes as The Washington News Australia can reveal those accused of murder have both previously been tried for minor offences.
In August, they were kicked out of their rental property for not paying rent.
Over the past six years, the couple have appeared in court more than 20 times in various minor cases that cannot be reported for legal reasons.
Aydin and Davila appeared in court on Wednesday, where the young father was seen to have a black eye.
On Monday, Mr Jung’s son shared a photo on social media of him with his parents as his father fought for his life in hospital.
In court on Wednesday, Judge Michael Gendy heard the pair, who appeared via video link, were linked to the crime scene through DNA evidence on a headlamp and blood stains found at Dr Jung’s home.
CCTV footage showed two people near the house at the time of the attack, but the recording quality was not strong enough to independently identify them, he was told.
Aydin did not apply for bail and Davila, who sobbed throughout her appearance, will return to court next Wednesday when Mr Gendi will consider whether she can be released on bail under house arrest.
Her lawyer said she was the sole custodian of the couple’s eight-month-old child and remaining in custody throughout the lengthy trial would have caused undue hardship to the child.
According to him, the couple tried unsuccessfully to become parents after the child was conceived during a one-night stand.
The court heard the pair were arrested outside the shopping center after they tried to steal a first aid kit from a pharmacy warehouse to treat Aydin’s injuries allegedly sustained during the break-in.
Crime scene tapes and forensic evidence were seen at the Youngs’ home on Wednesday.
Tributes began to appear on the sidewalk in front of Dr. Jung’s home.
Mr Gendy said he was inclined to accept the defense’s case that Davila should be given special circumstances because of her parental obligations, but he had not yet decided to release her on bail.
The prosecution opposed her bail, arguing that the alleged offense was serious, the evidence against her was strong and there was a risk of tampering with evidence.
While there was relatively strong evidence that Davila tampered with evidence in an attempt to wash blood from clothing found in the couple’s home, there was an obvious question mark around the strength of the evidence linking her to the crime scene at the time, Mr. Gendy said. .
While he acknowledged that her DNA was found on a headlamp at the crime scene, he said there was a possibility of secondary transfer from her to the crime scene through Aydin.
“In the absence of any other evidence that the accused was at the crime scene at the time, the case may remain ambiguous against her,” Mr Gendy said.
The couple is due back in court for a charge determination hearing in March.