Killer’s daughter to give birth in prison
THE pregnant daughter of a convicted killer has been jailed after falling into drug addiction when her father was charged with murder.
Codie Louise Pickering will become a mother while behind bars after pleading guilty to two counts of trafficking ice and cannabis, six counts of supplying dangerous drugs and a range of lesser offences in Townsville Supreme Court yesterday.
The 24- year- old is the daughter of Rodney Pickering, who was acquitted of murder, but convicted of the manslaughter of his “best mate” Ivan Owens.
In December 2012 Rodney Pickering stabbed Mr Owens in the chest after the pair, who had known each other for years, got in a heated argument at a Croydon pub.
Codie Pickering’s defence barrister Clare Grant said her client was working at the pub on the night of the attack and knew her father’s victim as “Uncle Ivan”.
Ms Grant said Codie Pickering and her brothers received death threats after her father’s arrest and eventually had to flee town.
“The circumstances in which she turned to drugs are tragic,” Ms Grant said.
“She and her brothers were essentially run out of Croydon due to threats made to her as a result of the actions of her father.
“Following that tumultuous period of her life she began dabbling in methamphetamine.”
Ms Grant said the 24- year- old de- veloped an addiction and began dealing to fund her habit.
Crown prosecutor Andrew Walklate said evidence collected off Codie Pickering’s mobile phone on two sep- arate police raids showed she trafficked ice and cannabis in the Townsville region.
Her first stint of trafficking occurred between February and March 2016 where she sold more than $ 25,000 worth of dangerous drugs.
She was charged and bailed with that offending, before being busted again for trafficking almost $ 15,000 worth of ice between October 2016 and February 2017.
The court heard Ms Pickering had at least 22 customers and ran a semisophisticated business.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine Holmes said Codie Pickering negotiated drug prices with clients, engaged other people to sell drugs and collect debts for her, and was assertive in her dealings.
Chief Justice Holmes took into account 202 days Codie Pickering had served in pre- sentence custody, her lack of criminal history and the hardship of having a child in custody when she sentenced her to five years’ jail.
Codie Pickering will be eligible for parole in May 2019.
Her father will be eligible for parole this November.