Drugs, guns, cash hoarder 'never dealt'

A man who was due to be sentenced after a raid uncovered drugs, guns and cash stashed throughout his Perth home claims he never dealt the illegal items.

A Perth man who was found with a large amount of guns and drugs in his wine cellar and cash inside a washing machine claims he has never sold or dealt the illegal items in his life.

Justin Glen Rinaldi pleaded guilty in the West Australian District Court in December to 39 charges, including possession of drugs with intent to sell or supply and possessing firearms without a licence or permit.

He was due to be sentenced on Friday, but with the prosecution labelling his claim he never sold drugs or guns "implausible", Judge Christopher Stevenson had no option but to schedule a trial of issues for May 10 and 11.

Rinaldi's defence lawyer said the crux of the issue was whether his client was engaged in a commercial enterprise.

"My instructions are he's never sold or dealt firearms or drugs in his life," he said.

There was a question as to whether Rinaldi supplied to people he knew, but not for money, he said.

The state is arguing it was a commercial enterprise, with Judge Stevenson noting Rinaldi's house contained strong doors and gun silencers.

The court previously heard Rinaldi also had a GPS jamming device, which could be used to block police communications, more than $330,000 in cash, 800g of MDMA, about 1650g of methylamphetamine, more than seven grams of cocaine, seven pistols, seven rifles and more than 2300 rounds of ammunition.

Seized items were found in an ice cream tub, West Coast Eagles bag, drawers in a spare room, cooler bag, tackle box, camera bag, a box in the roof cavity, on a workbench, in a safe and in an unlocked car.


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Source: AAP



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