The Court: Melbourne Magistrates Court
The Lawyer: Lucy Massouras
The Charges:
The Allegations:
The client was charged with possession of several high-end party drugs, including ecstasy, ketamine and cocaine. The client also had a prior history of drug possession and trafficking.
The client was out in the city with some friends when he was stopped and searched by police due to his suspicious behaviour. The drugs were found concealed in his clothing. Once the drugs were found, the client made full admissions to the police.
During the initial consultation with our solicitor, the client was referred to engage with a drug and alcohol counsellor and directed to undergo regular urine screens before the court hearing.
At Court:
At the court hearing, a guilty plea was entered. The drug and alcohol counsellor provided a letter in support of our client, and the clean urine screens were tendered. The Magistrate adjourned the proceedings to allow the client to continue engaging in his counselling sessions.
When the matter returned to court, the Magistrate was updated on the client’s counselling sessions, and further clean urine screens were tendered. Submissions by our solicitor were made to the court that the client had a drug habit, given the current offending and his prior history; however, he had engaged in services to assist his rehabilitation.
The Outcome:
Following submissions, the client was sentenced to a moderate fine of $850 and, more importantly, avoided a conviction on his record.
