Jeffrey McLaughlin, ex-Barkly Mayor, has latest court hearing adjourned due to lawyer’s illness
A former NT mayor had an unexpected roadblock hit his more than year-long fight against a series of drugs charges. Find out what happened in court.
Alice Springs
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A former NT mayor had an unexpected roadblock hit his more than year-long fight against a series of drugs charges – with his lawyer and their children falling ill.
Former Barkly Regional Council Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin’s matter was back in the Alice Springs Local Court on Tuesday – but absent was his lawyer Simon Lapinski.
Judge Carly Ingles asked where Mr Lapinksi was, with police prosecutor Phil Emmett informing her Mr Lapinski had to pull out at the last moment.
Mr Emmett said Mr Lapinksi’s children were sick at home.
Daniel Gorry appeared on instruction for Mr Lapinksi, who told the court Mr Lapinski was unwell and had “sick kids”.
The latest hearing comes as Mr McLaughlin’s matter continues to drag before the courts for more than a year, with his charges dating back to 2023.
Police allege that in February 2023, Mr McLaughlin returned a positive result for cannabis in a roadside test in Tennant Creek.
It is allegedly the second time in four months Mr McLaughlin had been behind the wheel under the influence of the drug.
He was also charged with possessing, supplying, and cultivating a schedule two drug.
The charges were laid after police alleged they uncovered trafficable amounts of cannabis and a marijuana plant when they searched his home in 2023.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Mr McLaughlin, now based in Queensland, was not required to appear at his latest hearing.
Judge Ingles excused him from the next appearance, which is set for December 10.
The latest hearing comes a week after police closed a year-long investigation into McLaughlin’s controversial citizen’s arrest in Tennant Creek.
No charges were laid in relation to the incident.
The citizen’s arrest took place in August last year, with a 20-minute video leaked to the media showing Mr McLaughlin sitting on a 12-year-old Indigenous boy.
The investigation into the citizen’s arrest is unrelated to his drug charges.
Throughout the investigation into both the drug charges and the citizen’s arrest, Mr McLaughlin resisted calls to step down.
He was dismissed – along with the rest of the Barkly Regional Council – in June this year after an investigation into the council’s conduct.
Mr McLaughlin has previously denied any wrongdoing during his time as Mayor.
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