Tullamarine: Kane Murphy of Mernda found with knives, drugs

A man was found to be armed with a 34cm-blade knife and had a second knife in his pocket when police found him parked in a Tullamarine street. And that’s not all they discovered in his car.

Police found a knife with a 34cm blade in the passenger footwell.

A man was found to be armed with a 34cm-blade knife and had a second knife in his pocket when police responded to a report of two men publicly using drugs in Tullamarine.

Officers arrived to find Kane Murphy and another man in a parked car in Coonamar St about 8.35pm on June 5, along with multiple bags of drugs, Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court has heard.

Senior Constable Matt Isaac said a search of the car uncovered two grams of ketamine in a black bag as well as 5g of cannabis in the boot.

Kane Murphy has been released from custody.

A knife with a 34cm blade was in the passenger foot well.

Police found a folding knife in Murphy’s pants pocket, and then when he was taken to Broadmeadows police station, found 3g of ecstasy on him.

The 32-year-old was on bail at the time and subject to a community corrections order.

He pleaded guilty to the charges before the court on Thursday, June 18, having been locked up since he was arrested.

Murphy’s lawyer told the court 13 days in custody had been distressing to the former crane driver, saying the jail time had been more onerous than usual because of the quarantine imposed by the COVID-19 outbreak.

“It’s been a rude awakening,” she said.

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The court heard the Mernda man had struggled with drug use since 2017, and that he was prepared to start addressing the issue.

Murphy’s father gave evidence the family would fully support him in his rehabilitation, with Murphy’s lawyer pushing for him to be released to get drug treatment without the supervision of the court.

Magistrate Ian Alger agreed to sentence Murphy to the days he had already spent in custody since June 5, saying he was taking a “pragmatic approach” to give Murphy an opportunity to focus on his rehabilitation.

Mr Alger adjourned the community corrections breach to August 28, when Murphy is also expected to face court for other matters.