Miller in court on drug charges
Stapleton, John. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 08 May 2008: 5.
Abstract
After spending half an hour in Sydney’s Manly Local Court, where he was not required to speak, the former 100m butterfly silver medallist said he was feeling “fantastic”.
Catchpole, who faces 13 charges after police allegedly found a loaded gun, $224,000 cash and drugs at his home, spent a week in jail before he was released on strict bail conditions. Catchpole has claimed the pill press belonged to [Scott Miller].
Mr [Brendan Maher] said he was keen to emphasise that although Miller has been charged with possessing an offensive weapon, this referred to the capsicum spray, not to a gun. He said just because Catchpole had made claims about the pill press did not mean his client was obliged to respond.
Full Text
OLYMPIAN Scott Miller yesterday expressed his love for his family as he made a brief appearance in court to face drug-related charges.
After spending half an hour in Sydney’s Manly Local Court, where he was not required to speak, the former 100m butterfly silver medallist said he was feeling “fantastic”.
Asked if he wanted to say anything to his friends and family, he said: “I love them all.”
Miller, 33, was arrested with Mark Catchpole, 40, a former rugby union player and the son of union legend Ken Catchpole, after police raided their luxury homes on Sydney’s northern beaches last month.
Police allegedly found a pill press capable of producing 27,000 pills an hour, along with a professional tablet counter, in a storage unit at Brookvale, close to where the two men live.
Miller’s appearance yesterday was a long way from his days when he was feted around the nation for his silver medal in the 100m butterfly at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
He faces four separate charges relating to the pill press, the seizure of capsicum spray, the anabolic steroid Stanozolol, and Stilnox sleeping tablets allegedly obtained without a prescription.
Catchpole, who faces 13 charges after police allegedly found a loaded gun, $224,000 cash and drugs at his home, spent a week in jail before he was released on strict bail conditions. Catchpole has claimed the pill press belonged to Miller.
Miller sat quietly in the court yesterday, accompanied by his lawyer and his father, Barry. He appeared fit, tanned and relaxed, and after the brief hearing was seen smiling with his companions.
The case was adjourned until June 11, when he is expected to enter a plea. His bail conditions, which require him to appear at Manly police station twice a week, were continued.
His lawyer, Brendan Maher, said his client was keen to speak out in his defence but he had counselled him to be patient and wait for the appropriate time.
Mr Maher said: “None of us would like to go through what he’s going through.”
Mr Maher said he was keen to emphasise that although Miller has been charged with possessing an offensive weapon, this referred to the capsicum spray, not to a gun. He said just because Catchpole had made claims about the pill press did not mean his client was obliged to respond.