A MAN who was captured by police after diving into a Tamworth river will fight drug supply charges against him.
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Thomas Michael Gould is being held in Cessnock Correctional Centre and is facing eight drug-related charges from two separate investigations.
Gould has been in custody since his arrest on August 14 when he dived into the Peel River in Tamworth but was captured shortly after by police on the riverbank.
The 28-year-old is accused of supplying and possessing 26g of methylamphetamine between May 24 and 26 in Tamworth as well as 1g of cannabis leaf.
The court was told the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was yet to take over the case until a FASS, or specialist forensic certificate, had been obtained on an analysis of the drugs seized.
“Because the quantity or number one drug hasn’t been established,” solicitor Garry Johnson said.
The court heard a partial brief had been served but several items were still missing.
“A statement of the scenes of crime officer of exhibits taken from a motel room … DNA profiles … lifted from items,” DPP solicitor Mark Ferguson said.
“Telephone recordings need to be downloaded.
“As I understand it there has been a fingerprint located.”
Mr Johnston said the preliminary forensic results were “inconclusive".
“It is the location of that fingerprint that is vital,” he said.
“There are other fingerprints that have been found.”
Mr Johnston said the brief items were vital to his client’s case.
“It’s an unusual case,” he told the court.
“Drugs are not found on any person … it’s in a place … that others have access too.”
Magistrate Roger Prowse adjourned the case to allow police to compile the evidence, with the matter to return to court later this month.
Gould is also accused of supplying and possessing 9g of methylamphetamine between August 13 and 14 in South Tamworth.
On the same date, police allege Gould supplying 20.5g of MDMA and possessed the same amount.
He has also been charged with a fresh count of dealing with the property suspected of being the proceeds of crime, which was served at court this week.
He pleaded not guilty to the five charges and will face a hearing on the case in Tamworth Local Court in February, next year.
Gould’s bail was formally refused.