THE man police claim to be the ringleader of the Tamworth 'ice castle' will learn his fate before Christmas, as one of his co-accused seeks to get released to go to rehab.
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Several of the Strike Force Radius targets are awaiting sentence in Tamworth District Court and had their cases mentioned on Monday.
Stephen Ross Hanshaw - the man who police claim was the kingpin - lived in the Petra Avenue unit previously dubbed the 'ice castle', with his then wife, Rebecca Joan Hanshaw. He faces life behind bars for ice supply.
Stephen Hanshaw appeared via video link from prison and his Sydney solicitor said they had finalised the case.
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"[The facts] have been settled and signed by the instructing solicitor," Jordan Portokalli told the court, via video link.
Hanshaw gave the thumbs up to his solicitor with the court told the sentencing hearing could take two hours.
"Thank you very much," Hanshaw said when told he would be sentenced before Christmas.
Co-accused Rebecca Hanshaw, who is living on "a farm outside Bundarra", did not appear in court.
"Is she related to Stephen Ross Hanshaw," Acting Judge Jonathan Williams asked, examining the court papers.
"Yes, she was his wife," Legal Aid solicitor Rae Parker told the court.
"Ms Hanshaw is on bail."
The court heard a barrister will take on the sentencing, set down for later in December, with Hanshaw to make the four-hour round-trip.
Luke Anthony Downs did not appear in court but his solicitor Christopher Wozniak said the facts in that matter had been whittled down from 25 pages to about 18.
"We're still to-ing and fro-ing with the Crown," he said, adding the matter was "somewhat complicated".
Mr Wozniak said Downs had a bed waiting for him at an intensive rehabilitation centre, but a previous bail bid last month did not go ahead.
"We eventually withdrew the application," he told the court, adding that he was awaiting a "psych report" which was "being finalised at the moment".
Mr Wozniak said the defence wanted a Section 11 release to allow his client to be released on bail to complete the lengthy rehabilitation program before he is sentenced.
"That's the factor that may impact on the sentence," he told the court.
The bail application and sentencing was adjourned to later this month for the delivery of the specialist report.
"Bail's refused," Acting Judge Williams said.
A solicitor for Suri Phoumindr and Phu Van Lam said she needed more time to get instructions from her clients after she "received some amended facts".
Lam has admitted to supplying 482.9g of methylamphetamine already, while Phoumindr has also pleaded guilty to commercial ice supply. They've been adjourned to mid-December for sentencing. Both remain bail refused.
The accused are all part of Strike Force Radius which unfolded with several raids in May 2019. More than 30 men and women were charged for drug and gun-related offences. Several have already been sentenced.