Ausralia,Cheers as biker bailed

OFF THE WIRE
Accused cocaine trafficker Adam McCrea celebrates his release with his partner after spending six months behind bars.

APPLAUSE broke out in the gallery of the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court yesterday as accused cocaine trafficker Adam Warwick McCrea was released on bail.

Tension between police officers and McCrea’s supporters was palpable as the crowd waited to hear Magistrate Graeme Tatnell’s decision.

McCrea had been in custody since his arrest in March this year when he was allegedly found in possession of cocaine while on Supreme Court bail.

For the past two days the court has heard evidence from police surrounding the eight people accused of being involved in a cocaine trafficking ring which McCrea allegedly headed.

Their arrests stemmed from an investigation being carried out by detectives into a trafficking ring between Hervey Bay and the Gold Coast.

Police allege McCrea sourced between $150,000 and $200,000 worth of cocaine while on a disability pension.

Two of those accused of trafficking, Mark Darran Berghofer and Peter Ross Hill, were committed on Monday morning to face a judge on a date to be set.

Yesterday afternoon one of McCrea’s co-accused, Bradley James Cameron, had his charge set down for a separate hearing on November 11.

The remaining four, Kylee Heather Anderson, Joshua Shane Carew, Steven Michael Smith and McCrea’s sister Lisa Joan Thomas, will also appear on that date.

McCrea was released on bail until his next appearance in February.