Martin Churchill: Lawyer to stand trial over alleged ice supply
A lawyer will face trial on allegations he helped his high-profile client run a massive drug syndicate from behind bars. It will be alleged that legal phone calls to prison were being used to allow the inmate to orchestrate the drug operation.
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A Sydney lawyer accused of helping a high-profile client operate a drug syndicate out of prison will stand trial in the NSW District Court after pleading not guilty.
Martin Alan Churchill, 64, a solicitor from Glebe, was arrested and charged in July last year over his alleged involvement in a drug ring being operated out of prison.
Police will allege in court that legal calls between Churchill and a client, who was an inmate at a high-security prison, were being used to allow the inmate to direct a drug syndicate.
Police will allege in court the syndicate supplied ice across NSW during 2017 and 2018.
The high-profile inmate is serving a lengthy prison sentence for murder and cannot be named for legal reasons.
Churchill has been in custody since his arrest and appeared back in Central Local Court on Tuesday where he entered pleas of not guilty to four serious charges.
That included take part in drug supply (commercial quantity), knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, hinder apprehension of a person who committed serious offence, and stalk or intimidate.
A further three charges – knowingly direct activities of criminal group, participate in criminal group contribute criminal activity, and hinder discovery of evidence – were withdrawn.
Churchill has been committed for trial in the NSW District Court with his matter listed for arraignment on Friday, September 11.
Churchill appeared in court via audio visual link from prison on Tuesday and calmly took notes while dressed in his prison greens. He did not apply for bail.
His high-profile co-accused is also facing a list of charges over the alleged drug ring and his matter remains before the courts.