Tony Mokbel’s go-to lawyer Sarah Tricarico pleads guilty over driving offences
Melbourne lawyer Sarah Tricarico – normally in court to defend high-profile gangland crooks – blamed a mail mix-up for landing on the wrong side of the law and putting her job at risk.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Melbourne lawyer known for defending gangland crooks including drug lord Tony Mokbel has found herself on the wrong side of the law.
Sarah Tricarico pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to driving unlicensed, claiming a mail mix-up was at the root of her flouting the road rules.
The court heard Ms Tricarico had lost her licence in July 2021 for a six-month period due to demerit points.
But she claims she never received the notification from VicRoads due to mailing issues.
Police found Ms Tricarico driving without a licence on Russell St in the CBD in December 2021.
Her lawyer Nick Marcevski pushed for her to be punished with a good behaviour bond, saying all tenants in Ms Tricarico’s building were having “ongoing issues” with mail delivery at the time.
He said the single mum had also been experiencing a relationship breakdown and had lost her stepfather to Covid.
She has not offended further and has no prior traffic or criminal history, Mr Marcevski said.
Magistrate Brett Sonnet recognised Ms Tricarico’s face and said she deserved leniency.
“I understand you practise criminal law and I’m very familiar with you,” he said.
“You are entitled to leniency, in my opinion.”
He did not mark a conviction against her name, which could have impacted her ability to continue to practise law.
Mr Sonnet also made no further order against her licence.
He instead ordered her to be of good behaviour for six months, and to make a $500 donation to the Salvation Army.
Ms Tricarico, who has her own firm Sarah Tricarico Lawyers based on Little Collins St, often acts on behalf of high-profile clients including Mokbel, Notorious Crime Family boss George Marrogi and Warren Shea, who was acquitted of a gangland murder.
The Herald Sun earlier revealed how Ms Tricarico’s house and office were raided in February last year as part of a criminal proceeds squad probe.
She was arrested but later released without charge.
Man to face court over ‘Pam the Bird’ graffiti attacks
A man has been charged over some of Melbourne’s most high-profile “Pam the Bird” graffiti attacks, including on the Flinders Street Station clock and CityLink “Cheese Stick” column.
Coward punch thug to spend years in jail for vicious Southbank attack
A man who dealt a catastrophic coward punch to his victim during a cocaine-fuelled night out looked at his loved ones in disbelief after learning he would spend years behind bars.