Two men charged over the kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian allegedly carried out their roles for $30,000 and coordinated the plot using ‘pig latin’.

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 body near a golf course on Monday.

The grandfather was snatched from his North Ryde home at 5am on February 13 and a multi-million dollar ransom demand was later made, sparking an 11-day search in which it was hoped he would be found alive.

However, when the men appeared separately before Blacktown Local Court on Thursday, they were charged with taking/detaining Mr Baghsarian with intent to ransom, occasioning bodily harm and murdering him at Dural between February 13 and 14, within 48 hours of his alleged kidnapping.

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

Officers allegedly collected a range of evidence tying the pair to alleged crime scenes during the 11-day search, including one of the men’s DNA 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, along with 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. 

Chris Baghsarian was abducted from his home in North Ryde before being killed

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

The duo also allegedly spoke in pig latin to discuss the alleged plot – a ‘secret code’ often used by children.

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.

Daniel Stevens has been charged with the grandfather’s kidnap and murder

Gerard Andrews has also been charged with Mr Baghsarian’s murder

He said that from what he could gather his client was at a low level in the alleged plot.

‘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.

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.

Andrews was taken in for questioning with his jeans around his ankles during his humiliating arrest on Wednesday

‘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.