Alleged Bago State Forest shooting victim Joshua Dempsey makes bid for bail
Ongoing treatment for a gunshot wound was not enough to keep Joshua Dempsey – the alleged victim of a “chilling” kidnapping plot – out of custody after cops allegedly found a stash of meth and cash on him.
Ongoing treatment for a gunshot wound was not enough to keep Joshua Grant Alan Dempsey – the alleged victim of a ”chilling” kidnapping plot – out of custody after cops claim to have found a stash of meth and cash on him.
Nykeeta Jones, Dahkota Harris and Matthew Campbell McDonald stand accused of taking Dempsey at gunpoint, ordering him to strip naked and giving him the choice of being shot or stabbed in a remote section of the Bago State Forest late last year.
As that matter plays out in court, with Harris and Jones released on bail – the latter to be reunited with her newborn baby – Dempsey, 33, was stopped in his sedan by police on Ocean Dr, North Haven on July 21.
Police allege they seized 8.37 grams of methamphetamine along with the cash from the vehicle.
Dempsey was taken to Port Macquarie Police Station and charged with possessing a prohibited drug deemed for supply in a trafficable quantity, possessing a prohibited drug and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
The gunshot wound was a central factor in Dempsey’s bail application, with solicitor Grant Slowgrove telling the court his client required ongoing medical attention.
Mr Slowgrove also told the court Dempsey suffered from post traumatic stress disorder.
Magistrate Karen Stafford said it was a strong crown case with a “high” likelihood of imprisonment.
“So there’s no risk at this stage that the remand period will be longer than the non-parole period,” she said.
She added that both medical requirements could be dealt with in corrective services.
Dempsey was refused bail.
His next court appearance is on September 18 at Port Macquarie.
The alleged kidnapping case is ongoing.
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