Lost Paradise: two men to plead guilty to supplying drugs at festival
Two men charged with supplying drugs at the Lost Paradise music festival at Glenworth Valley have fronted court for the first time.
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Two men charged with supplying drugs at the Lost Paradise music festival at Glenworth Valley have fronted court for the first time.
Mark William Burns, 23, of Elanora Heights and Liam Ellis-Roberts, 21, of Drummoyne, faced Gosford Local Court today charged with one count each of supplying and possessing prohibited drugs.
Police charge sheets tendered to court allege the two men were stopped by police at the security checking point on the first morning of the festival about 10 minutes apart.
It comes as police have issued a public appeal for information following the death of 22-year-old Brisbane rugby player Joshua Tam at the same festival.
There is no suggestion the two men charged at he festival supplied the drugs which lead to Mr Tam’s death.
Mr Burns pleaded guilty to supplying MDMA and had six bags of cocaine, which he said was for personal use, weighing 6.46g, when he was stopped by police.
Registrar Chris Steptoe adjourned the matter for sentence in the Downing Centre Local Court on January 24.
Meanwhile in another courtroom, Mr Ellis-Roberts’ solicitor told Magistrate Alex Mijovich his client “intends to plead guilty”.
His solicitor sought an adjournment for his client to be assessed for the Magistrate’s Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) rehabilitation program.
Mr Ellis-Roberts had been stopped about 9.15am on December 29 and later charged with trying to supply 25g of MDMA and being in possession of a small quantity of Xanax.
His solicitor told the court Mr Ellis-Roberts wanted to study at the University of Canberra and sought that he be excused at the next appearance.
However Mr Mijovich declined the application and adjourned the matter February 1.
As the two men faced court, police investigating the fatal overdose of Mr Tam — who collapsed about 6pm on December 29 — issued a public appeal for information from anyone who was with him leading up to, or during the festival.
In particular police would like to speak to another patron, specifically, a woman who was with Mr Tam, when medical staff first responded to his collapse.
The woman, who is believed to have been an acquaintance of Mr Tam, spoke briefly to the medical staff and left without leaving her details.
Anyone with information about Mr Tam’s movements prior to his death is urged to come forward and contact police.
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