Kiri Jade Maree Ezekiela, 31, pleaded guilty to several offences in Gladstone Magistrates Court
A Gladstone mother of three pleaded guilty to numerous charges after evading police before being busted with methamphetamine. Find out more details here:
Police & Courts
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A Gladstone mother driving on a court-suspended license sped away from police, then was found with dangerous drugs at her home.
Kiri Jade Maree Ezekiela, 31, appeared via video-link from prison and pleaded guilty to numerous offences including evade police on Friday in Gladstone Magistrates Court.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Tania Griffiths told the court that on August 13, around 4.25am, police saw a Holden Commodore turn onto Glenlyon Road and activated their lights and sirens.
The car heavily accelerated, made evasive actions and failed to stop when required and police ended up abandoning the attempted intercept.
Police checks on Ezekiela’s licence, who they identified as the driver a short time after the pursuit, found she was court disqualified on May 12.
Around 5.20am that day, police attended Ezekiela’s unit on Kent Street and located her in her bedroom.
She was arrested and transported to the Gladstone watch house where a search was conducted.
During the search of Ezekiela’s handbag, police located a clip seal bag of methamphetamine and two used clip seal bags.
She was given her rights and cautions and questioned regarding the drugs, stating she owned them.
Ms Griffiths said with her actions, Ezekiela had endangered the lives of the public by evading police when they clearly signalled their intent to intercept her.
Ezekiela’s lawyer Rio Ramos said her client’s drug and alcohol use started when she was 18 and had caused her physical and psychological issues since.
“She has three kids who are no longer in her care and she has scarcely seen them over the past couple of years,” Ms Ramos said.
Acting Magistrate Ron Muirhead convicted and fined Ezekiela $7000 for evading police and disqualified her from driving for two years.
She was also sentenced to three months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 12 months. Convictions were recorded.
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