Man to face court for spiking drink at a Newtown pub
A man who is alleged to have spiked the drink of young woman at a Newtown pub is set to face Court.
The 27-year-old woman was enjoying drinks with friends on November 22 at Newtown Hotel on King Street. It is alleged that when she went to the bathroom, 28-year-old Thomas Elliott sat down at the table and spiked the woman's drink with gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB).
When she got back, the woman finished her cocktail before collapsing.
The incident was caught on CCTV, with footage showing Elliott putting something in a drink, a court has heard.
She was taken to hospital where blood tests confirmed the drug GHB was in her system.
The man was arrested at his workplace the next week and taken to Day Street Police Station where he was charged with administering a poison with the intention of injuring or causing distress or pain.
“It is a strong circumstantial case,” police prosecutor Sergeant Liam Edwards told the court.
“The CCTV footage captures actions that I’d submit are consistent with someone putting a substance into a drink.”
The accused has denied the charges.
“He doesn’t have any motive to engage in what was occurring and he was only there for a short time because he was meant to go out with his (female) friend,” Elliott’s lawyer told the court.
Sheridan Randall, 2nd December 2019
