Bomber’s court delay
TROUBLED former Geelong premiership coach Mark Thompson appeared in court on drugs charges yesterday.
Thompson, 54, appeared at a brief preliminary hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court after being charged last month with serious drug trafficking offences.
The court heard police were still examining items seized from Thompson’s home and the matter was adjourned until next month.
Thompson was supported in court by former wife Annette.
He was charged on May 1 with seven offences, including trafficking ecstasy and ice as well as possessing ecstasy, ice, LSD and Xanax.
Detective Sen-Constable Naomi Bourke told the court when Thompson was arrested that police seized large amounts of drugs including ecstasy, ice, ephedrine and LSD from his converted Port Melbourne warehouse when it was raided in January.
Drugs allegedly seized in the raid included 839.7g of MDMA, a further 134.6g of tablets believed to be MDMA, 33.1g of ice and other bags scattered around the house alleged to contain significant quantities of drugs.
Police also seized drug paraphernalia, including scales, hard-drives, ice pipes, deal bags and prescription drugs.
Some of the drugs and items were allegedly found in a magnetic box, others in a shoebox.
Thompson was interviewed in January and soon after left for a trip to the US to visit his adult son, the court heard.
Police also allegedly seized handwritten notes recording “large amounts of money transactions” between Thompson and a co-accused, Thomas Windsor, 28, who was leasing part of the property from Thompson.
The court heard Thompson had two ex-wives and three children.
Sen-Constable Bourke said police also found Geelong memorabilia and a coin collection in Thompson’s house.
Thompson, who is on bail, is due to return to court on July 31 for a special mention.