Billi-Jai Cameron-Knight jailed for trafficking cannabis, assault
A drug trafficker who ‘had nothing to lose’ when selling cannabis, sobbed with family and friends after he faced court for drug crimes and assaulting a co-worker.
Police & Courts
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A drug trafficker who once punched a co-worker for urinating in his wardrobe sobbed, along with his family and friends, as he was ordered to spend the next six months in prison.
The former crocodile farm worker and scaffolder had trafficking cannabis for 4.5 months to 21 customers with 71 supplies, of at least 2.533 kilograms of marijuana and earning at least $28,695.
Billi-Jai Cameron-Knight, 24, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on March 28 to one count of trafficking drugs, 10 counts of supplying a dangerous drug, along with one count each of possessing a drug, possessing drug utensils, possessing a weapon, possessing a restricted item and possessing tainted property.
He had pleaded guilty on March 20 to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm for the wardrobe urination punch.
Crown prosecutor Maryam Yousufzai said the assault victim was a co-worker who had stayed over at Cameron-Knight’s house one night.
She said the defendant confronted the co-worker at another residence on December 12, 2020, about urinating in a wardrobe and punched him in the head.
Ms Yousufzai said the victim fell onto a concrete floor and lost consciousness, only regaining it once he was in hospital.
The victim sustained facial fractures and a blood clot at the back of his scalp.
Judge Jeff Clarke said the victim was no longer able to work in scaffolding due to balance issues and has to wear glasses for reading.
Cameron-Knight’s trafficking was detected when police raided his place on January 21, 2021, ceasing his phone which contained the messages about drug sales and offers to supply, including five supplies of ecstasy.
Police also located 111 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia at the residence along with a knuckle-buster, home-made nunchakus and $3970 in a safe.
Defence barrister Sheridan Shaw said her client, at the time of the offending, “felt like he had nothing to lose”.
“But now, he has build up a life he is terrified of losing,” she said.
Ms Shaw said Cameron-Knight held many jobs since finishing year 12 in Mackay including bar work, working at a crocodile farm and scaffolding work.
Cameron-Knight was supported in court by his mother, sister, partner, partner’s mother and friends – many of whom sobbed with the defendant during the proceedings and loudly as Judge Clarke sentenced him to three years prison.
The prison term will be suspended after Cameron-Knight serves six months and it’s operational period is four years.
Convictions were recorded.
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