A NUMBER of people accused of being involved in the Tamworth 'ice castle' drug and gun supply ring will make fresh bids for bail.
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Thirteen men and women - facing more than 145 charges collectively - had their cases adjourned in Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday morning, as volumes of evidence and telephone intercepts are being prepared in their cases.
Matthew Robert Lee, Anthony Edward Stanshall, Cory Alan Cloake, Neil Edward Cook, Shaun Andrew Winsor, Sharon Strudwick, Rebecca Joan Hanshaw, Melanie Anne Caldwell, Stephen Ross Hanshaw, Suri Samantha Phoumindr and Peter Trompa are all behind bars.
They're accused of being involved in what's been dubbed the Tamworth 'ice castle' drug and gun supply ring that was allegedly operating out of a Petra Avenue housing commission unit.
Simone Leah Hatch and Simon Mitchell Cowan remain on conditional bail.
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Police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Baillie said the co-accused all related to a strike force and the prosecution needed more time to gather the evidence.
"The informant tell me there are transcripts, TI [telephone intercept] material," he said, listing the items that were still outstanding.
Magistrate Julie Soars said many were in custody, and the extra delays meant they were waiting behind bars for their cases to proceed.
"It's a very large brief, briefs, that's what I am told," Sergeant Baillie replied.
"I do have people in custody, bail refused," she interjected, expressing concern at the six week adjournment request.
"I know people are doing what they can."
Sergeant Baillie said the "the informant has provided everything he can" to this point.
None of the accused made an application for bail on Wednesday, but the court heard several have foreshadowed release applications in the coming month.
Caldwell will press for her release in September, while Cloake's solicitor will move quicker.
"Mr Cloake advises me ... there's been a change in circumstances, he wishes to make a bail application," solicitor Yvonne Phillipos said.
The court heard the accused are being held in various jails across the state, with family members seated in the back of the court as the cases were adjourned, one by one.
Legal Aid solicitor Rae Parker told the court "on the basis of the brief that has been served" on her client, Trompa, she "wants to make a further bail application".
"It's all about conspiracy," she told the court.
Ms Parker acknowledged she would need to overcome two hurdles for the application: one, that her client had already been refused and needed to show a change in circumstance; and two, that the matter was show cause and he needed to prove why his detention was not justified.
"I'm instructed to apply for bail, sooner rather than later," she said.
The case was adjourned. Several others remain before the court. None of the accused have entered pleas to the drug or gun supply charges.
Stephen Ross Hanshaw is alleged to be one of the ringleaders in the "ice castle business" which was allegedly supplying drugs out of his Petra Avenue housing commission unit.
The Strike Force Radius operation unfolded with a serious of raids and arrests in Tamworth in May.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
