Josh Pinnell found not guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice

A man who was charged after attempting to take the rap for drug items found during a police raid has faced trial in Ipswich. The jury returned its verdict on Monday.

Josh Luke Netterville Pinnell is on trial for allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice. He claims there was a misunderstanding over the date of a police raid.

A JURY has found Gatton man Josh Pinnell not guilty of a charge alleging he had sworn a statutory declaration before a JP with intent to pervert the course of justice in a drugs case.

Following a two-day trial in Ipswich District Court, a jury returned its not guilty verdict just before midday on Monday.

In his evidence before the court, Mr Pinnell, 36, had denied the Crown prosecution charge alleging that he attempted to pervert the course of justice by swearing a false statutory declaration on February 24, 2019.

The prosecution had argued that he did this in order for drug related charges against his friend Chad King to be dropped, or to reduce his friend’s criminal liability.

Mr Pinnell said all he intended to do in making the statutory declaration was to take ownership of the drug related paraphernalia as it was the right thing to do.

He said that he simply made a mistake regarding the date stated in his sworn declaration, relating to the day that he believed he had dropped off drug items at the Gatton home of King. Mr Pinnell was not charged with drug offences.

The court heard that Mr King pleaded guilty to drug offences as a result of a police raid executed at the property.

Originally published as Josh Pinnell found not guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice