DRIVER CHARGED TWICE WITH DRUG OFFENCE Liam Casey Kirkman received two driving suspensions and $1500 in fines when he appeared in the Local Court on November 26, 2024. Representing himself Kirkman, 28, of Jindalee Circuit pleaded guilty to two charges of driving with illicit drugs in his system after police stopped him on April 27 and June 1 this year. Magistrate Rana Daher fined Kirkman $700 for the first offence and a further $800 for the second offence. On both occasions Kirkman was stopped on Redfern Street, both just before 11am for random testing which returned a positive to cannabis. On April 27, when police asked Kirkman about when he had taken the drug he said “Last night at home, a bit of dope”. After returning a positive reading on June 1 Kirkman told police, “probably from the last time you got me”. Kirkman was disqualified from driving for six months. COURTESY BUS ACCIDENT CHARGES ADJOURNED A Cowra man involved in an accident with a courtesy bus that resulted in the death of a passenger is expected to be committed for sentencing in Cowra Local Court in January. Scott Death, 32, appeared briefly in Cowra Local Court on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 when a date for committal was expected to be set. However, the court was told a joint application was being made to adjourn his matter. The court was told representations between police and Death’s defence could see a date for his sentencing set last December, but presiding magistrate Rana Daher adjourned the matter to Cowra in January granting both the Department of Public Prosecution and Death’s legal counsel leave to apply for an earlier date in Orange. Death was charged after a patron of the Cowra Bowling Club died in an accident between Death’s vehicle and a mini bus on Fitzroy Street in Cowra on December 16, 2023. Death has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death - drive manner dangerous, cause bodily harm by misconduct - in charge of motor vehicle, negligent driving (occasioning death) and two counts of knowingly make false/misleading statement. COURT USES DISCRETION ON LOW RANGE CHARGE A Canowindra man who returned a blood alcohol reading 0.007 over the legal limit was placed on a Conditional Release Order without conviction when he appeared in Cowra Local Court on a drink driving charge on November 27, 2024. Daniel Bowd, 38, represented himself when he appeared before magistrate Rana Daher charged with a low range drink driving offence. “Given the reading is so low I’ll exercise my discretion not to record a conviction,” Ms Daher told Bowd. According to police documents, Bowd was stopped for a random breath test on September 5, 2024 returning a positive result. A breath analysis revealed a blood alcohol reading of 0.057. HARD BALL IN SOCK 'FOR SELF DEFENCE' Phillip Oxley was fined $900 in his absence at Cowra Local Court on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 on a charge of possessing an offensive implement in a public place. Police documents revealed Oxley was searched by police when they came across him pushing a shopping trolley along Brisbane Avenue in Cowra about 5.40am on August 7 this year. Forty six year-old Oxley of Thomas Street Cowra, according to police documents was searched after police formed the opinion he may have possession of an illicit drug. During the search police found a hypodermic needle containing a red liquid, one Ice pick and a sock containing a hard ball. Oxley told police he used the Ice pick as a shank stating he used it for personal grooming such as his fingernails Police said he first claimed using the sock and ball to swat away flies before admitting it was for self defence.
