Drug trafficking charge dropped against Vanessa Bennett and Tyrone Taipari
A bikie has admitted a significant amount of meth found in a carport was his, with the charges dropped against his “wrong place, wrong time” co-accused.
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Two people found in a carport with a significant amount of meth had their charges dropped, after a Finks bikie admitted to police from the start the drugs were his.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday heard police wouldn’t be proceeding on the drug trafficking charge against Tyrone Issac Pappahori Taipari and Vanessa Louise Bennett.
Con O’Neill, for the third accused, Anthony Wittana Edward Wells, 44, told the court he would be entering a guilty plea to supplying a controlled drug.
SA Police raided a South Brighton property just after 2pm on August 17 where they discovered two ounces of a substance believed to be methamphetamine.
Mr Wells, of Seaford Rise, was arrested on a parole board warrant and charged with drug trafficking.
They allege Mr Wells is a member of the Finks Motorcycle Gang.
Mr Taipari denied any knowledge of the drugs from the start, saying he was present only to look at a limousine he was considering hiring for “a party bus-type experience” for his birthday.
“One of those co-accused (Mr Wells) has said to police ‘that’s my methamphetamine, the other two have absolutely nothing to do with it’,” Indianna Davis, for Mr Taipari, told the court during his bail application.
“He said he was 100 per cent in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
After a failed bid, Mr Taipari, 33, of Inman Valley, was eventually granted home detention bail in September.
Ms Bennett, 41, of Golden Grove, is also charged with breaching her home detention bail, drug trafficking, possessing a dangerous article and unlawful possession of property.
Sean Nottle, for Ms Bennett, told the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday she was in custody on another drug trafficking charge.
A prosecutor told the court they wouldn’t accept Mr Wells’ plea in satisfaction of the drug trafficking charge – which he pleaded not guilty to.
Magistrate Karim Soetratma committed Mr Wells to the District Court for arraignment in March.
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