Tristina Hay and Samuel Cross plead guilty in Lismore District Court after trying to smuggle cocaine from UK into Casino
A Gold Coast couple tried to smuggle cocaine from the UK into a Northern NSW town a court has heard. Here’s the latest on the case.
Police & Courts
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A Gold Coast couple who dodged police in two states after trying to smuggle cocaine into Australia from the UK, fleeing out a window to avoid arrest, are staring down sentencing.
Tristina Hay, 32, and Samuel David Cross, 34, had their case mentioned in Lismore District Court on Monday.
The pair have pleaded guilty to attempting to import a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug – cocaine.
The Tallebudgera couple sought refuge in NSW after becoming aware they were wanted by Queensland Police, according to court documents.
A warrant was issued for their arrest on December 17, 2021.
The couple attempted to evade arrest at a Barkers Vale address, near Kyogle, in December 2021 by fleeing out a bedroom window, according to police.
It is alleged the couple were based in Casino when they tried to import the marketable quantity of cocaine from the United Kingdom between August 8 and October 12, 2021.
Tristina Hay has been on bail, while her partner Samuel Cross has been kept in custody.
The court previously heard the couple were an “extreme” flight risk.
Judge Jennifer English laid out the couples sentence date for June 2, when they will learn if they will be jailed or not.
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