David Speirs: Extra drug charge for former South Australia Liberal leader
Prosecutors have added a second drug charge to their case against former SA Liberal leader David Speirs, a court has been told.
David Speirs, 40, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where Director of Public Prosecutions Martin Hinton KC said a charge determination had been made and negotiations with Speirs’ lawyers had commenced.
Mr Speirs was initially charged with two counts of supplying or administering drug (not cannabis) to another person from August 2-3 and on August 9. But one charge was dropped and the other was varied before his first court appearance in November.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.In court on Tuesday, Mr Hinton told Magistrate Lynette Duncan he would proceed with two counts of the same charge.
Court documents show the dates of the alleged offences have been amended to August 1 and from August 1-10 at Kingston Park in Adelaide.
Outside court, Mr Speirs said he “would like to see a resolution sooner rather than later”.
“But I respect the judicial processes of this state,” he said.
“I just look forward to working through the process in a logical and methodical way.”
He said the change from one charge to two was “just administrative”.
The former opposition leader resigned from parliament on October 15, clearing the way for a by-election in his southern Adelaide seat last November, which was won by Labor candidate Alex Dighton.
He has been embroiled in controversy since he quit the leadership on August 8, declaring that he had “just had a gutful” of leadership speculation and did not have the energy to keep fighting.
On September 9, News Corp published a video purportedly showing Speirs snorting a powder.
He declared the footage to be a “deepfake” and vowed to clear his name.
On October 5, Speirs released a video statement saying he did not believe he could “adequately and effectively serve my local community while also dealing with this matter, protecting my mental health and supporting my family and friends”.
“Since allegations of illicit substance use in my home became public, my home has been raided by armed police, I was arrested and I was questioned,” he said.
Speirs was arrested at Berri, in SA’s Riverland, on September 26 and charged after police searched his Kingston Park home.
He will reappear in court on March 27.
