A COURT has been told some of the offences against two men charged in connection to an alleged drug ring around Gunnedah could be withdrawn after forensic results were received.
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Warren Barry Ayre and Robbin John King are both being held in custody on several charges including manufacturing a prohibited drug.
Ayre appeared via video link from prison in Tamworth Local Court where Magistrate Roger Prowse was told more time was needed in the case after a development in the material contained in the brief of evidence.
A solicitor for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said a report from a forensic chemist had been completed.
“Given the information contained in the forensic chemists’ report … it will impact on the charges,” she told the court.
Given the information contained in the forensic chemists’ report … it will impact on the charges.
- DPP solicitor
The DPP solicitor said the report referred to evidence that was the basis of “certain charges”.
“In the interests of justice, it may impact in relation to the defence,” she said, adding a report now needed to be considered by the Director.
The court was told the brief against Ayre spans five volumes or bull-ring folders.
Ayre’s solicitor Tammy White didn’t oppose the adjournment and made no application for bail.
He said it was “likely some charges” won’t proceed “but that’s no guarantee”.
The DPP made the same application for King, and his barrister, Stephen Ryan, consented with the case adjourned to August.
The pair were charged by detectives from Strike Force Burril – a undercover police operation set up to investigate the supply of drugs and firearms in the Gunnedah and Liverpool Plains areas.
Ayre is facing charges of manufacturing a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs, supplying cannabis, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime with intent to conceal, contravene an AVO, and supply a prohibited drug.
King is facing six charges including supply more than an indictable quantity of cannabis, supply a firearm to a person unauthorised to possess it, manufacture a commercial quantity of drugs, supply an unregistered firearm, supply more than an indictable quantity of drugs and manufacture a prohibited drug.
In April, the court was told there were in excess of 200 pages of telephone intercepts in relation to King that police had obtained.
The court heard police were waiting on forensic and expert certificates on the analysis of some glasswear.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
