THE court mentions of more than 20 people connected to a large drug bust operation in Mount Isa last year will be adjourned until April.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Their names formed the bulk of the 14 page Mount Isa Magistrates Court list document last Wednesday.
Magistrate Stephen Guttridge, who transfers to Hervey Bay next month, avoided scattering the defendants across various court dates.
They were all adjourned for mention on Tuesday, April 18, despite proposed earlier appearances from several legal representatives.
This included Anderson Telford, who appeared by video link to represent eight of the accused, including Dane Robert Inwood, Kayne Gerard Slann, and Shane Michael Parkes – who late last year was named in national media after his son died in a jet ski collision.
Mr Telford suggested an adjournment until next month before told by the magistrate his aim was to have the co-accused appear on the same date in April.
The solicitor initially requested an adjournment because the prosecution had supplied him with one hard copy of their evidence, despite him representing eight defendants.
Mr Guttridge said that the solicitor could still negotiate with prosecution for further information in anticipation of the mention in April.
Bail was enlarged for defendants.
Rhyse Alexander Southam was another defendant adjourned until April, with his legal representative heard by phone.
Mr Southam also faces five other charges that are not drug related.
These charges are related to stolen goods and receiving tainted property, and have also been adjourned to the same day.
The alleged ringleader of the drug syndicate is Lee James Freestone, who is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrate Court on Wednesday.
The defendants are all linked to police operations North Caliper and Oscar Lake.
These operations lasting two years ended with the execution of search warrants made last July in Mount Isa and Cairns.
A large quality of drugs and $1.5 million in property were alleged to have been seized by police, according to Mount Isa Detective Inspector Chris Hodgman when the operation concluded.
151 grams of methamphetamines and 1.5 kilograms were alleged to have been seized during the police searches, according to police at the time.
.