Dennis Michael Barrett, Ryan Dennehy Elliot and Zach-Matthew Sam Steadman plead guilty to drug trafficking
Three men busted trafficking drugs in suburban Sunshine Coast have been reunited in the dock of a courtroom as their case took a dramatic shift. Read what happened in court.
Sunshine Coast
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A trial planned for three men busted trafficking drugs in a suburban Sunshine Coast suburb has been canned in a significant shift in the case.
Dennis Michael Barrett, 54, Ryan Dennehy Elliot, 29 and Zach-Matthew Sam Steadman, 26, all sat together in the dock in the Maroochydore District Court on Friday, November 10.
The trio had been due to stand trial for trafficking in Buderim, until the change of direction as the trio instead entered guilty pleas to a swag of charges.
Elliot and Steadman shook hands shortly before the court proceedings began as four other members of the public seated themselves behind the trio in the gallery.
Each member of the trio pleaded guilty to a series of charges relating to the trafficking of drugs.
Steadman pleaded guilty to a total of five charges, including trafficking, possessing and supplying a dangerous drug between January and December 2021, as well as possessing a mobile phone used for the trafficking as well as money from the offences.
The court was told the supplying charge related to the supply of cocaine by Steadman at Buderim around December 4, 2021.
Elliot pleaded guilty to two charges, including drug trafficking and possessing a mobile phone and an iPad used in the trafficking between August and December 2021.
The third man, Barrett, pleaded guilty to three charges relating to drug trafficking between January and December 2021.
Barrett also pleaded guilty to an additional charge brought by Crown prosecutor Rebecca Marks of possessing more than 500g of cannabis in September 2021 in Caboolture.
The court was told the three men were initially listed to participate in a trial, however, the matter had been able to be resolved.
District Court Judge Nicholas Andreatidis listed Elliot’s sentence for December 4, 2023 and set Steadman and Barrett’s sentences to be heard together on January 29, 2024.
Both Steadman and Barrett remain on bail.
Elliot appeared cheerful in the courtroom, waving to his co-offender Steadman as he was taken back into custody.
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