Matthew Van Linh Burton married co-accused drug dealer Stephanie Watmore days after bail release
A father charged after a huge drug haul has married his co-accused girlfriend in an intimate ceremony days after being released on home detention bail.
North & North East
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A man alleged to be the supplier to multiple men after a huge drug haul has married his co-accused partner in an intimate ceremony days after being granted bail.
Matthew Van Linh Burton, 37, and his new wife, Stephanie Leigh Watmore, 31, faced Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, not letting court obligations interrupt their newlywed bliss.
Mr Burton was released on home detention bail to his mother’s address last week, after Justice Kevin Nicholson knocked back his request to live at his family home.
The couple wasted no time celebrating Mr Burton’s freedom by getting hitched over the weekend and posting several photos of the nuptials to Facebook.
However, Mr Burton’s strict home detention conditions, including electronic monitoring, mean a honeymoon likely isn’t on the cards anytime soon.
During Mr Burton’s unsuccessful bail bid in December, the court heard police attended a Salisbury Park address on November 2.
Police say they found a cannabis oil laboratory and about 2L of fantasy.
As a result, Steven de Winter, 38, Darryl O’Donnell, 43, and Scott Coy, 33, all of Salisbury Park, were charged with multiple counts of drug trafficking.
It is alleged Mr Burton knocked on the door while police were searching the house, and they found 150g of methamphetamine, a fake driver’s licence and two mobile phones on him.
They also searched his car and found $11,745 and a cryovac bag containing 250g of methamphetamine, the court was told.
Police then searched Mr Burton’s Salisbury North address and allegedly located buprenorphine strips, 5g of heroin and two cannabis plants being grown hydroponically.
The court heard Ms Watmore and their children were home during the search.
Mr Burton, of Salisbury North, is charged with multiple offences, including commercial drug trafficking and money laundering.
Ms Watmore, a registered nurse, is also charged with multiple counts of drug trafficking.
During Mr Burton’s bail review, a prosecutor told the Supreme Court there appeared to be a high level of commerciality in his offending.
“The photographs and videos depict Burton and Watmore engaging in suspected drug activity together at the address, including the possession and consumption of suspected illicit substances,” the prosecutor said.
“The accused clearly has access to a large volume of drugs … and clearly has access to a large sum of cash.”
The court heard the total value of the drugs found was between $115,000 to $185,000.
The court heard Ms Watmore was struggling to care for their four children without Mr Burton, as she suffers from numerous medical conditions.
In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, the duo’s charges were adjourned until next month for charge determination.
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