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A Ballina man who allegedly was involved in a massive cross-border drug and guns syndicate is expected to agree to the facts in the case, a court has heard.
Jake Anthony Magri, 28, was arrested in June 2020 and charged with multiple drug and firearm possession and supply charges in Ballina.
It is alleged Mr Magri was involved in a high-level drug syndicate that operated in New South Wales, south east Queensland, and Victoria. Ballina arrest during massive police raids across three states.
Police will allege military grade firearms were distributed throughout the syndicate’s illegal network.
Mr Magri’s solicitor told the court on Wednesday he was meeting with his client next week to discuss the “very serious charges” outlined in the 13-page fact sheet next week.
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Subscriber only A teenager will plead guilty to the manslaughter of an East Lismore man in 2019, a court has heard. Bryson Larsen-Tai, 19, appeared before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday via video link but did not speak. Mr Larsen-Tai was allegedly involved in a fight near Hill and Park Sts, East Ballina on December 23, 2019. During the fight 24-year-old Jesse Vilkelis-Curas sustained catastrophic head injuries , according to court documents. He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital where he died a few days later on Boxing Day 2019. The court heard Mr Larsen-Tai had accepted an offer from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions which would see him plead guilty to manslaughter.
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Subscriber only A Ballina man will spend at least two years in prison for supplying ice across the Northern Rivers. Peter Maurice Cooper, 48, was arrested in March last year following a police investigation into the supply of methylamphetamine in the Ballina area. He had since pleaded guilty to supplying a prohibited drug on more than three occasions in the Ballina and Goonellabah areas. Cooper, between February 26 and March 25, 2020, supplied the probated drug on 19 separate occasions, ranging from 0.35g to 3.5g at a time, according to court documents. A man will face court today after stolen property and drugs were located during a search warrant at a Ballina home yesterday.
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Subscriber only The murder trial of a man who allegedly killed of a fellow inmate will continue despite his willingness to plead to manslaughter. Richard Jason Reay, 44, is charged with murder over the death of 52-year-old Ballina man Geoffrey Fardell. Police will allege Mr Fardell was killed while being held on remand at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre, near Kempsey, on between June 10 and 11, 2019. Mr Reay, who remains bail refused, was arraigned before the NSW Supreme Court in Port Macquarie on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Fardell. During his arraignment, Mr Reay said he had been willing to plead guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Premium Content Two Ballina brothers charged over an alleged park stabbing remain before the courts. Charge certificates in the cases against Jarett and Tory Martin-Manton, aged 25 and 24, are due to be filed by the prosecution by April 15. The case against the pair will return to court the following day. Neither of the men were required to appear in person when the allegations were mentioned before Tweed Heads Local Court on Friday. Police will allege the pair were involved in a fight in Apex Park in Byron Bay in the early hours of Sunday, September 20. It will be alleged that during this fight, the brothers stabbed Gregory Martin, causing various wounds.