Tyrone Taipari, accused of dealing meth, denied bail in hearing that lasts just seconds

An alleged bikie associate who claims he was merely trying to hire a limo for his birthday, not deal a large quantity of meth, had just one word when a magistrate refused bail.

A man who claimed he was trying to hire a limousine, not deal in drugs, when allegedly busted with two ounces of meth has been flatly denied bail in a hearing lasting only seconds.

On Wednesday, counsel for Tyrone Issac Pappahori Taipari asked the Adelaide Magistrates Court to postpone their client’s bid for home detention.

They said the address at which he had sought to live was “no longer available”, but that an alternative had been identified.

Magistrate Stephan Metanomski, however, was having none of it.

“Given the contents of his bail inquiry report in terms of his history, that prosecution are opposed to bail in any form and his past home detention has not been positive, I will not be granting bail,” he said.

A visibly stunned Mr Taipari, who was watching via video link from custody, responded: “What?”

Counsel asked if they could instead withdraw Mr Taipari’s bail application – which would allow them to try again at a later stage.

“No,” Mr Metanomski replied. “The application was made, and I’ve refused it.”

Mr Taipari, 33, of Inman Valley was arrested alongside Vanessa Louise Bennett, 41, of Golden Grove, and Anthony Wittana Edward Wells, 44, of Seaford Rise.

Anthony Wells, Vanessa Bennett and Tyrone Taipari are charged with drug trafficking. Photo: Facebook

Prosecutors allege they were involved in trafficking two ounces of methylamphetamine at South Brighton – an incident that was foiled by a police raid.

They allege Mr Wells is a member of the Finks Motorcycle Gang, and that Mr Taipari has “associations with outlaw motorcycle gang groups”.

He has denied those assertions, saying he was present only to look at a limousine he was considering hiring for “a party bus-type experience” for his birthday.

Prosecutors, however, insisted Mr Taipari’s extensive criminal history made him a poor candidate for bail.

They alleged he had, between 2003 and 2022, committed 110 separate offences.

On Wednesday, Mr Metanomski remanded Mr Taipari in custody to face court again, alongside his co-accused, in December.