AUSTRALIA - Drug case against bikie's son dropped

OFF THE WIRE
The son of a top Canberra bikie has pleaded guilty to a downgraded drugs charge, vacating an ACT Supreme Court trial listed to run this week.
Michael Wayne Clark had pleaded not guilty to trafficking in methamphetamine, and was due to stand trial in the ''blitz'' on the court lists.
But the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions yesterday presented a formal notice of ''nolle prosequi'', dropping the prosecution. The move had been flagged several weeks ago after negotiations between the parties.
Earlier yesterday morning Clark, through his lawyer Michael Kukulies-Smith, pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to possessing methamphetamine.
Clark, the son of senior Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gxxg member Wayne Gordon Clark, is also awaiting sentencing for an unrelated driving matter.
The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to accidentally driving a car into a pedestrian more than two years ago, leaving the man fighting for his life. The plea was entered after the prosecution agreed to abandon an allegation the defendant deliberately crashed into his victim.
Clark pleaded guilty to culpable driving negligently occasioning grievous bodily harm instead of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm. He is now facing a maximum penalty of four years behind bars on the driving charge - under old laws recently overhauled made the maximum 10 years - rather than 15.
Clark and his lawyers have disputed some of the material in the DPP's proposed statement of facts.
The charge stems from an incident in September 2009 when Ian McKay was crushed between two cars in the driveway of his Kambah home.
The case is listed for a contested facts hearing later this year. Magistrate Peter Morrison adjourned the drug possession matter until next month.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/drug-case-against-bikies-son-dropped-20120423-1xhk3.html