Vic; Lawyer attacks news reporting of drugs raid

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-1999
Vic; Lawyer attacks news reporting of drugs raid

By Catherine Chisholm

MELBOURNE, Dec 24 AAP - A newspaper article about a police drug raid on a Melbourne
hotel was "outrageous" and bordering on contempt, a defence barrister said today.

Dennis William Smith, 55, and Denis Baldwin, 64, of Middle Park appeared in Melbourne
Magistrates Court charged with drug trafficking after police raided the Hollyford Hotel
in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, yesterday.

Five others were also charged.

A third person, Mary Carla Gannon, 39, of Heidelberg West, could not face court today
because she was too "tired and emotional", the court heard.

Bob Galbally, defending, said a story in The Age newspaper today which had been written
by an experienced journalist with comment from the regional crime coordinator was "outrageous".

He said the detail in the story was prejudicial and could contaminate a magistrate's
mind and make it difficult to be objective in a bail application.

It was calculated to influence not only the public but anyone reading the article, he said.

Mr Galbally said Detective Superintendent Dannye Moloney, who described the Hollywood
Hotel as a "supermarket for amphetamines", should have had more sense.

The article referred to Smith being "an extremely popular figure among criminals".

It went on to say that since he has been connected with the Hollyford Hotel it had
become a meeting place for many notorious identities.

The article was "prejudicial and borders on contempt of court", Mr Galbally said.

Smith, Gannon and Baldwin all face charges of trafficking amphetamines and conspiring
to traffic amphetamines.

Mr Galbally indicated they would apply for bail on Wednesday.

Magistrate Wendy Wilmoth remanded the trio to appear for committal mention on March 28.

AAP cmc/ra/kr

KEYWORD: SMITH CHANGE KEYWORD FROM AMPHETAMINES

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.