Former Opposition leader David Speirs now charged with one count of supplying a controlled drug, not two, ahead of Adelaide court date

The case against former Opposition leader David Speirs, arising from alleged drug supply, has changed ahead of his first appearance in court on Friday.

The drug supply case alleged against former state Liberal leader David Speirs changed on the day before his first appearance in court on Friday.

The Advertiser can reveal Mr Speirs will face the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Friday charged with one offence – not two, as previously alleged.

In October, SA Police charged Mr Speirs with two counts of supplying a controlled substance between August 2 and 3 and on August 9 this year.

Those charges, they alleged, arose from his arrest at Berri, in the Riverland, on September 26 and a subsequent search of his residential premises.

The arrest was made public a month after The Advertiser published a video of Mr Speirs appearing to snort white powder in the kitchen of his Kingston Park.

Metadata shows that video was recorded on June 30 – Mr Speirs claims it is a deepfake, but a top forensic analyst concluded it was “authentic” with no indication of tampering.

However, court records provided to The Advertiser show Mr Speirs is now charged with a single count of supplying or administering a drug, other than cannabis, to a person.

The charge alleges the offence occurred at Kingston Park between August 1 and August 10, 2024 – effectively encapsulating the previous allegations in a single count.

David Speirs at the SA Mid Winter Charity Ball on August 2, 2024. Picture: Facebook

The maximum penalty for the offence if found guilty is a $50,000 fine, a 10-year prison term, or both.

It is considered a major indictable offence, meaning it may eventually be dealt with by the District Court.

Under state law, the offence of supplying a controlled drug is based on the quantity of illicit substance allegedly found in a person’s possession.

Legislation prescribes weights for different substances that divide possession between personal use, supplying or trafficking.

At law, prosecutors must prove the charged individual had possession of a controlled substance, and also had the intention to supply or administer it to another.

Possible defences to the charge include a lack of possession, a lack of intent, a mental impairment or a successful challenge to the facts alleged by prosecutors.

He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Friday at 11.30am.

Ordinarily, a first court appearance is used to set a timetable for the progression of the case, including a charge determination date.

On that second date, prosecutors will announce whether they intend to proceed with the allegations as charged, upgrade them, or downgrade them.

At a third hearing, the defendant is required to enter their plea to the charge or charges against them.