Karratha cousins Staum and Vaughn Selwyn found guilty in a marathon nine day meth trial

Two cousins have been found guilty of attempting to smuggle 499g of meth into Karratha after a marathon nine day trial wrapped up in Karratha District Court today. Staum and Vaughn Selwyn were on trial at a sitting of the District Court in Karratha charged with attempting to bring methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply into Karratha in 2018. A third man, Rangitukehu Noble, was found not guilty of aiding the attempt on Monday after a judge ruled in favour of a no-case submission by his lawyer. Judge John Prior said he was not satisfied there was enough evidence to conclude beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Noble knew of the alleged attempt to bring meth into Karratha. “I am satisfied Mr Noble has no case to answer for, I find him not guilty,” he said. The prosecution alleged police stopped a Ford Ranger on October 19, 2018 — owned by Mr Noble— driven by Vaughn Selwyn, with Michael Hirini as a passenger, on North West Coastal Highway 55km south of Karratha. The prosecution told the court the meth was found in two vacuum sealed bags concealed in a light green swag in the ute’s tray during the vehicle stop. Police then searched Staum Selwyn’s property on October 25, where they say drug paraphernalia was found. Mr Hirini pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a traffick-able quantity of meth in 2019 and is yet to be sentenced. State Prosecutor Jo-Anne Boots said intercepted phone calls from Staum Selwyn to Mr Noble showed he had knowledge of the plan. Ms Boots said Staum Selwyn called Mr Noble at 12.38pm on October 19 and said “they (police) got them dog”. Earlier in the trial when giving evidence, Detective Senior Constable Michael Hitchcock said he gave traffic police instructions to intercept the Ford Ranger after reviewing intercepted phone calls from October 18. Det. Sen. Const. Hitchcock said he provided Senior Constable Phillip Carter with photographs of Mr Hirini and Vaughn Selwyn. He told court the operation began in April 2018 when telephone intercept warrants were issued. Detective Senior Constable Mitchell Kirk told the court under cross-examination on Thursday police never identified the owner of the swag. In his opening statement, Staum Selwyn’s barrister Anthony Eyers said his client played no part in a plan to bring meth to Karratha. The men were remanded into custody and are due to be sentenced tomorrow.