Sarimah Icely, Christopher Roewer: Albury alleged crime couple distraught at bail conditions
An Albury woman has burst into tears in the dock of Albury Local Court on Friday, after she was warned to stay away from her boyfriend after alleged drug offences.
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An alleged drug dealing couple were distraught after a magistrate warned them not to contact each other.
Sarimah Icely, 19, and Christopher Roewer, 23 faced Albury Local Court on Friday after they were charged with possessing and supplying prohibited drugs, and participating in criminal group activity.
Detectives executed a search warrant at a house on Fairview Drive, Lavington, at about 10.30am on Thursday.
During the search warrant, police allegedly seized a quantity of cannabis, cash and mobile phones.
Ms Icely’s parents and brother became emotional as they sat in the courtroom to support their daughter as she applied for bail.
Prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Coombs opposed Ms Icely’s release on the risk that she might interfere with witnesses or her co-accused, fail to appear at her next court appearance, or commit further serious offences.
“This is a criminal enterprise,” Sgt Coombs said.
“These types of offences cause great harm to the community.”
The defence said Ms Icely had no previous criminal history and had been dealing with mental health issues since her best friend took her own life when Ms Icely was in Year 8.
Magistrate Richard Funston agreed to grant Ms Icely bail under strict conditions, including that she couldn’t contact her co-accused, Mr Roewer.
“But he’s my partner,” Ms Icely yelled from the dock.
Magistrate Funston said the only reason he granted Ms Icely bail was because she hadn’t been in trouble with the law before.
“It seems you’ve got involved in something way over your head,” he said.
Mr Roewer also appear in Albury Local Court to apply for bail.
Sgt Coombs opposed Mr Roewer’s release on the same grounds as Ms Icely, also taking into account Mr Roewer’s previous criminal history in Victoria.
The defence said this was Mr Roewer’s first alleged offence in NSW, and that his Victorian history ended in 2017.
Magistrate Funston agreed to grant Mr Roewer bail under the condition that he reside with his father, Karl Roewer, follow a curfew, and had no contact with his partner.
“You can’t contact her in anyway, even through social media,” Magistrate Funston said.
He said if Mr Roewer breached his bail conditions, he would not grant him bail again.
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