Joanne McKinlay from Suffolk Park dismissed of Byron Bay cocaine charges

A 55-year-old woman is set to be sentenced on one charge of cocaine supply after other charges she had been facing were dropped.

The majority of a Byron Shire woman’s cocaine supply charges have been dropped and a sentence date set for her one remaining offence.

Joanne McKinlay, 55, from Suffolk Park, was last year charged alongside her then partner Scott Edward Biber, 57, Broken Head man Michael Robert Birch, 67, and Lennox Head man Philip David Emanuele, 50, over the alleged supply of cocaine in the Byron Bay area.

Ms McKinlay was scheduled to face a Byron Bay Local Court hearing on Tuesday but the court heard the majority of her charges were set to be dropped.

Two charges of supplying a small quantity of a prohibited drug and supplying a commercial quantity of cocaine were withdrawn.

Ms McKinlay had previously pleaded guilty to supplying 2g of cocaine in the Byron Bay area and that charge was accepted for sentence.

Her Suffolk Park home was raided by police after Mr Biber’s arrest in January 2020.

He was allegedly found with 1.1kg of cocaine concealed in a fire extinguisher in his possession in January and faces 12 charges including supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and taking part in supplying a prohibited drug.

The three men are facing numerous similar charges and had their cases adjourned on November 12 for further mention.

Ms McKinlay’s charges will remain in the Local Court while the co-accused are expected to be prosecuted in a higher court.

Prosecutor Sarah Wilkin asked for a sentencing date to be adjourned for a costs application on Tuesday.

The application related to one charge of deemed supply of a prohibited drug, possession of a prohibited weapon and recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime, the latter of which relates to $1800 cash.

Solicitor Tracey Randall also applied for Ms McKinlay’s bail to be varied to unconditional.

Magistrate Michael Dakin agreed to remove conditions that Ms McKinlay live with her parents and not drink alcohol.

The court heard Ms McKinlay was “extremely anxious” to be before a court hearing and had previously been in custody for three-and-a-half months.

Mr Dakin adjourned Ms McKinlay’s matter until May 3, 2022, for sentence in Byron Bay Local Court.