Three teenage party goers had their partying plans cut short on Wednesday when they landed themselves on the wrong side of the law, pleading guilty to the unlawful possession of drugs upon their arraignment on Thursday.
Bradley William James, Paul Bailey Mullarkey and Grace Olivia Murray, all 19-year old British citizens, were arrested while partying at the Splash and Fun Park, the venue of one of several parties taking place around the island at Wednesday’s public holiday.
Members of the Drugs Squad dispatched to the particular venue, had arrested the three youths after finding them in possession of psychotropic and other restricted drugs.
A search had also been carried out later inside a room shared by all three suspects at a St Paul’s Bay residence, the prosecution explained, when outlining the circumstances leading up to Thursday’s arraignment.
All three were charged with unauthorised possession of ecstasy and ketamine. Mr James was separately and additionally charged with possessing cocaine without proving that the drug was for his personal use.
All three were arraigned separately, pleading guilty to the charges.
Mr James, who had possessed fixed ecstasy pills and 1.237 grams of the other drugs, was conditionally discharged for two years. Mr Mullarkey and Ms Murray, who had possessed larger amounts of the illicit substances, were fined €950 and €875 respectively, which fines were to be paid immediately.
The young lady, huddled in a light throw which covered up her beachwear, was crying throughout most of the hearing.
Her crying resumed upon hearing that she was to pay an €875 fine immediately to obtain her release from preventive arrest. Apparently, she did not have sufficient means to pay it there and then.
When meting out punishment the court, presided over by magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, took note of the accused’s early guilty plea, their full cooperation and the amount of drugs found in their possession, further ordering the destruction of the drugs.
Inspector Justine Grech prosecuted.
Lawyer Francine Abela was legal aid counsel to all three youths.