Josh Addo-Carr: NRL superstar a no-show in Taree Court as firearm, COVID-breach charges adjourned
Melbourne Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr has pleaded not guilty to breaching Ministerial COVID-19 orders during a visit to Taree in April. The charge has been adjourned to March 5 where the NSW Blues player is also set to be sentenced for unauthorised firearm use.
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NRL superstar Josh Addo-Carr has pleaded not guilty to breaking COVID-19 protocols while on a now-infamous weekend away at fellow footballer Latrell Mitchell’s Cafferys Flat property, west of Taree.
Lawyer acting for Addo-Carr, Elias Tabchouri, entered the plea at Taree Local Court after requesting Magistrate Roger Prowse excuse the 25-year-old from appearing as he was busy preparing for a grand-final this weekend against the Penrith Panthers.
“He [Addo-Carr] has the NRL Grand-Final this weekend, so I’d ask that your honour would consider that – as it’s his employment,” Mr Tabchouri said.
“So, I’ll take it he’s not here?” Magistrate Roger Prowse said.
“Yes, that’s correct your honour,” Mr Tabchouri said.
“So I’ll write down that he’s not here.”
The not guilty plea of failing to comply with Ministerial orders relating to COVID-19 movement and travel restrictions, is one of two charges currently pending against Addo-Carr.
The other is a firearm offence for which he was due to be sentenced for today. Instead, both matters will now be heard on March 5 at Taree Local Court.
A third charge of failing to comply with noticed direction in relation to section 7 COVID-19, was withdrawn.
Addo-Carr entered a plea of guilty to using an unauthorised firearm while at a weekend away at Mitchell’s property in April, on September 2.
The charge stemmed from a police investigation into the weekend, which saw both he and Mitchell fined $1000 for breaching COVID travel bans.
They had joined 10 other men for a weekend at Mitchell’s property at Caffreys Flat in the midst of the state’s stringent COVID lockdown measures.
Viral social media vision of the men riding dirt bikes and sitting around a campfire caught the attention of police.
In one clip Addo-Carr is seen firing a Dickinson brand T1000, 12-gauge single barrel shotgun into the burnt rubble of the home on Mitchell’s property, which was destroyed in the summer bushfires.
Both players were fined $50,000, with 60 per cent suspended, by the NRL over the COVID breach saga but were free to keep playing.
Mitchell went to Taree Police Station in the days immediately following the ordeal, where he handed over his gun license, three of his firearms and made arrangements to surrender other guns he had in Sydney.
Mitchell was charged with one count of giving a firearm to a person not authorised and pleaded guilty on August 4.
His case has been adjourned for sentence on November 9.