A MAGISTRATE has relaxed bail conditions as he considers his findings in the case of a couple accused of supplying illegal drugs in Tamworth.
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After 10 months of no contact since their arrest, Phillip and Kim Doorey have been reunited and allowed to live together as their case is considered in Tamworth Local Court.
After a complex committal hearing last week to determine whether the couple will be ordered to stand trial, Magistrate Mal Macpherson said he was unable to hand down a decision straight away.
“I can see what it comes down to,” he told the court.
“I just want to go over the decision.”
Phillip Doorey, 45, is facing five charges of importing a quantity of border-controlled drugs, as well as a further six charges including supplying drugs on an ongoing basis and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime with intent to conceal.
The pair are accused of knowingly exposing a child to drugs, while 33-year-old Kim Doorey is also facing four drug-related charges.
The case against the pair has been marred by complexities, after laboratory results revealed some of the drugs seized during raids allegedly contained a synthetic substance.
Dr William Allender, a forensic scientist and toxicologist with NSW police, gave evidence at the hearing, telling the court the drug was a structural modification of a substance banned under the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act.
“I do believe this is a structure of methcathinone,” he said.
Crown prosecutor Mark Ferguson said a DAL certificate determined the drug was alpha-PVP.
“The drug we’re dealing with is alpha-PVP. Ultimately, his expert opinion is that it is a structural analog of a prohibited drug,” he said.
But Phillip Doorey’s barrister, Richard Wilson, argued alpha-PVP did not fit the modification definition in the legislation – which has since been changed.
“Alpha-PVP was not, at the time of this legislation, included in the legislation,” he said.
“Precisely why Parliament have listed it on the legislation as of September last year.”
Magistrate MacPherson said “this is the most complex matter” and has adjourned the case for mention in May before he hands down his findings.
The accused are now allowed to live together in Sydney and will only report to police once a week.
They were charged in June last year after raids on their Garden St home by detectives attached to Strike Force Gavey.
