DPP Adam Kimber does not respond to questions on investigations into Gepps Cross Football Club ‘drug culture’ case

THE state’s top prosecutor is silent on whether his staff investigated claims the Gepps Cross Football Club has a “drug culture” before a judge accepted them — but may consider an appeal.

Brenton John McEwan-Stephens claimed Gepps Cross Football Club has a “drug culture”, and blamed it for his ecstasy dealing. Source: Facebook.

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THE state’s top prosecutor is silent on whether his staff investigated claims the Gepps Cross Football Club has a “drug culture” before they were accepted by a judge.

However, Director of Public Prosecutions Adam Kimber SC may consider appealing former player Brenton John McEwan-Stephens’ suspended drug trafficking sentence.

The Advertiser asked Mr Kimber five questions about the case on Wednesday after revealing McEwan-Stephens blamed Gepps Cross’ “significant drug-taking culture” for offending.

That claim, made by his defence counsel, was echoed by District Court Judge Sophie David in her decision to suspend McEwan-Stephens’ jail term.

Mr Kimber was asked whether his staff or SA Police investigated the claim and, if so, what the results of those inquiries were, and whether an appeal will be lodged.

He also was asked why prosecutors did not challenge the submissions in court and whether his office would assist the club and SAAFL, who believe McEwan-Stephens has committed perjury.

Mr Kimber’s spokeswoman replied that he “had a very full schedule” and she “could not guarantee” he would be able to respond within 48 hours.

On Thursday afternoon, she said he had “not been able to consider” the questions “due to commitments”.

“He will consider an advice about the sentence, and the sentence itself, within the relevant 21 day period,” she said.

Both the club and the SA Amateur Football League deny the existence of a drug culture, saying McEwan-Stephens has “perjured himself” to secure a lenient sentence.

On Thursday, Gepps Cross seniors football director Dennis Gregory said the claim had devastated the club.

“We’ve been putting out a fire we didn’t light ... McEwan-Stephens committed the (drug trafficking) crime, but it’s Gepps Cross that’s serving the sentence,” he said.

“I’ve been with this club for 30 years, I’ve seen it at its highest and it’s lowest, and I feel like we’re on a bullet train to another low.”

SAAFL chief executive John Kernahan said McEwan-Stephens was no longer welcome in the league.

“The league has decided that he will not be re-registered to play unless and until he validates the claims, made in court by his counsel, against Gepps Cross Football Club,” he said.

He said the SAAFL had sought a $30,000 Crime Prevention and Community Safety grant, from the Attorney-General’s Department, to run a drug education workshop.

“Our proactive position on drugs and education surrounding drugs has been an agenda item for management (since) long before McEwan-Stephens was even heard of,” he said.

A spokesman for Attorney-General John Rau said the league’s application had been received and was “being assessed under the normal criteria”.

“The program is competitive with 40 proposals put to an independent panel for evaluation,” he said.

“Successful projects generally need to demonstrate they are likely to achieve specific outcomes.”

He said the Victim Support Service and the Ceduna Youth Hub had already secured grants under the program.

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