Mawson Lakes abduction charges against Alice Weekes, Richi Wilkins dropped
A man who was allegedly tied up, thrown into a car, shot in the back and dumped in a remote area refused to tell police what happened – and now charges have been dropped.
North & North East
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A man who was allegedly abducted, thrown into a car, driven into the middle of nowhere, shot in the back and dumped has refused to tell police about the incident, a court heard.
That refusal now means charges of false imprisonment, theft, arson and discharging a firearm to injure, annoy or frighten a person against Mawson Lakes mum Alice Mabel Weekes and Fitzroy man Leonard Robert Richard “Richi” Wilkins have been withdrawn.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday heard the alleged victim, 31-year-old Corey James McGhee, had made no statement to police.
The revelation saw Andrew Ey, for Mr Wilkins, request the charges to be dismissed.
“The complainant has made no statement to police,” he said.
Ms Ey said there had been a “significant change in circumstances” since Ms Weekes and Mr Wilkins had been charged, given Mr McGhee was “not co-operating”.
“Those charges are likely destined for failure,” he said.
Ms Weekes and Mr Wilkins now, instead, will each face charges of using or having a prohibited weapon, possessing a dangerous article, unlawful possessions and refusing to answer a question put by a police officer.
Two further charges of possessing firearms and ammunition will continue against them as police decide whether they can proceed, the court heard.
The duo are also charged with trafficking methamphetamine, although, the court heard, police would also decide whether that charge would proceed.
When the pair faced court in May, police alleged Mr McGhee - who is not charged with any wrongdoing - had been visiting Ms Weekes’s Mawson Lakes home before three men attacked and assaulted him then shot him in the back.
They had alleged he was then tied up and thrown in the back of his car before being driven to Port Gawler where he was freed and his car then set on fire.
A passer-by on the isolated Port Gawler road, police alleged, found Mr McGhee, took him to the Lyell McEwin Hospital and alerted police.
Both Ms Weekes and Mr Wilkins were remanded in prison before the young mum was granted home detention bail in July.
It was later revealed Ms Weekes was an active user of the X-rated OnlyFans online subscription service on which she was making as much as $12,000 per month posting explicit videos and photos under the name Poppy Days.
Ms Weekes’s home detention bail will continue as Mr Wilkins remains behind bars on remand.
They will next face court later this month.
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