Former SA opposition leader David Speirs faces court over drug charge

ABC NEWS (Australia)

South Australia's former Opposition Leader David Speirs has appeared in court on drug offence charges. Mr Speirs is charged with supplying a controlled substance after a video emerged which allegedly shows him snorting powder off a plate.

Transcript

00:00The former Liberal leader David Spears just left court behind me a short time ago after

00:06his first hearing.

00:08The public first became aware of the charges against Mr Spears when SA Police released

00:12a statement last month saying the 39-year-old had been arrested and charged with supplying

00:17a controlled substance in September over offences allegedly committed in early August.

00:23That same day Mr Spears had already posted a video to social media confirming that police

00:28had raided his home and also questioned him.

00:31He resigned from politics just days after his arrest was made public, but he'd already

00:36been on medical leave after a video was published by News Corp which appeared to show him snorting

00:41powder from a plate and was reportedly filmed inside his home.

00:46In the Christie's Beach Magistrates Court today, Mr Spears' lawyers were successful

00:50in getting his bail conditions varied so it means he can now travel overseas.

00:54The court didn't hear whether Mr Spears will defend the charges but he did make a brief

00:59statement to the media outside of court.

01:01Let's take a listen.

01:03I acknowledge this has been a very difficult time for me personally, a very difficult time

01:09for friends and for family members and no for me it's just a time to get around friends

01:16and family.

01:17Now Mr Spears' official departure from politics has triggered a by-election in the southern

01:22suburb seat of Black and tomorrow residents in that electorate will head to the polls

01:27to vote for their next local member.

01:29Today Mr Spears said he'd already cast his vote for the Liberal candidate Amanda Wilson

01:34who was running up against the candidate from Labor, Alex Dighton.

01:38For now though, Mr Spears will remain on bail ahead of his next court appearance in March

01:43when he faces a charge determination hearing.

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