No bail for couple on pot charges
A TOWNSVILLE couple accused of trafficking cannabis and due to marry on Saturday have been refused bail.
Police allege Sonia Marie Newby and Mark Merrin were major players in a drug syndicate along with the woman’s son Corrin Newby, supplying drugs to more than 40 customers on a regular basis.
It is alleged the syndicate operated out of properties in Kirwan and Vincent.
Investigators seized approximately 2.5kg of cannabis, $63,010 in cash, ammunition and electric weapons during Operation Romeo Dambulla.
Both have been charged with a string of offences including money laundering and drug trafficking.
The pair, wearing matching polo shirts with their names printed, made a failed application for bail when they faced Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday.
Police prosecutor Kellie Mythen opposed bail and told the court the couple posed a flight risk as they had scheduled their wedding for this weekend, with an overseas honeymoon planned afterwards.
“Timing is everything, isn’t it, with romance?” Magistrate Ross Mack said.
Representing both Newby and Merrin, defence barrister Claire Grant said the flight risk had been eliminated as police had confiscated both of their passports.
“It’s alleged by the prosecution that the conduct of both the applicants amounts to an organised syndicate of drug trafficking, however when one looks at the cases against each of the applicants individually … it’s anything but,” she said.
“The trafficking case against her (Newby) is entirely circumstantial given that the execution of warrants revealed property which is relied upon by the prosecution to be the proceeds of crime.”
Ms Grant argued the prosecution’s case that all three were involved in a “joint criminal enterprise” was based off “handbags, shoes and jewellery” that showed those items are linked to trafficking.
“The balance of the prosecution case comes from telephone intercepts evidence … only 38 of some 300 intercepts can be identified to reveal amounts or monetary amounts,” she said.
“There’s no evidence which supports the supply of just under 6kg of cannabis within the period, between the eighth of August and the 15th of September.”
The court heard the couple had been in a relationship for 20 years and shared a number of children together, some of whom were present in court for their parents’ appearance.
They owned a business S & M Amusement Hire, which began operating in August last year.
Magistrate Mack said the evidence against the pair was strong.
“Both Ms Newby and Mr Merrin pose an unacceptable risk of failing to appear,” Mr Mack said.