Brother of NCA bombing suspect Domenic Perre indicates guilty plea to drugs and weapons charges
THE brother of NCA bombing suspect Domenic Perre has indicated he will plead guilty to drugs and weapons charges, a court has heard.
THE brother of NCA bombing suspect Domenic Perre has indicated he will plead guilty to drugs and weapons charges, a court has heard.
Francesco ‘Frank’ Perre, 56, and wife Rita Perre, 52, were charged with serious drug and firearm offences after a search of a Riverland property that uncovered a hydroponic drug growing operation in January.
Police allegedly discovered 13kg of dried cannabis and a grow room hidden on the Chaffey property, near Renmark, alongside a pump-action shotgun and a Bruno SLR rifle.
The couple appeared in the Berri Magistrates Court on Monday where their lawyer said the husband “had indicated a plea of guilty” in order to receive a discount on his sentence.
The couple is yet to formally enter pleas.
It was understood Frank Perre had hoped to plead guilty if charges against his wife were dropped.
The pair were each charged with one count of cultivating cannabis with the intention to sell, possessing proscribed equipment, trafficking in a commercial quantity of cannabis, failing to keep firearms secured, as well as two counts of possessing a firearm.
The court heard police were still waiting to formally submit declarations, including a certificate confirming cannabis plants were found on the property.
Magistrate Bob Harrap remanded the couple on continuing bail to face court again in June.
The charges were laid after police raided his Waterloo Corner property and allegedly found an elaborate irrigation system used to grow cannabis plants, alongside more than 45,000 rounds of military ammunition.
Perre, who owns his own Salisbury-based legal firm, has also been charged with possessing illegal armour-piercing military ammunition and failing to comply with firearms regulations.
Those alleged offences are yet to be dealt with.
His wife, Emma Perre, 36, was jointly charged with the same offences.
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner Greg May is investigating Perre’s conduct and may suspend his licence.
Major Crime detectives are continuing their investigation into the 1994 National Crime Authority bombing that claimed the life of WA detective Geoffrey Bowen and severely injured lawyer Peter Wallis.