Chillinit: Blake Turnell faces additional charge after alleged cocaine arrest

A court has ordered NSW Police to pick up a legal bill for a high profile Sydney rapper after they slapped him with a new charge the day he was to face a hearing, scuppering the date.

NSW Police will have to pay a high profile rapper’s legal bill after they hit him with a new charge on the day he was to face a hearing charged with cocaine possession.

Sydney artist Chillinit – known personally as Blake Turnell – was charged with prohibited drug possession and resisting police after an alleged run-in with officers in Hurstville in February 2021.

Documents tendered to Sutherland Local Court state police will allege Turnell, 27, had 1.03g of cocaine when he was stopped by officers on February 18 last year.

Police further allege Turnell also resisted a probationary constable in the execution of their duty.

Turnell had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was set to face a hearing at Sutherland Local Court on March 21 when a NSW Police prosecutor laid a new charge of wilfully obstructing an officer.

High profile solicitor Ahmed Dib – who is representing Turnell – confirmed the court had ordered NSW Police to pick up Turnell’s bill in relation to his preparation for the hearing after it was aborted as a result of the unexpected new charge.

A new hearing date will be set for the back half of 2021 – leaving Turnell waiting even longer than anticipated to learn his fate.

Blake Turnell, aka Sydney rapper Chillinit.

The Hurstville rapper’s tracks One Breath One Take and Wish You Well 2 became ARIA-accredited platinum singles in 2020.

He is on a social media hiatus in preparation for his upcoming One Night Only national tour.