PANICKED and under pressure from shadowy organised crime figures to find a skipper to sail a catamaran packed with 700 kilograms of cocaine from Tahiti to Australia, a drug syndicate member lied to Newcastle musician Craig Lembke about the job, telling him it was a "stock standard delivery" and there was nothing untoward on board.
The syndicate member, who was jailed for more than 19 years for his role in the plot and cannot be identified, gave evidence for a fifth day on Thursday, admitted he was "getting panicky" about finding someone to pilot the boat when he went and spoke to Mr Lembke on September 30, 2017.
Under cross-examination from Public Defender Peter Krisenthal, for Mr Lembke, the syndicate member agreed Mr Lembke was reluctant to deliver the catamaran and he had to talk him into it.
"You did that by telling him that it was on the level and there was absolutely nothing untoward about it?" Mr Krisenthal asked the syndicate member, who agreed.
"It was a stock-standard boat delivery?" Again, the syndicate member agreed.
"You lied to him on September 30, 2017, didn't you?" Mr Krisenthal asked the syndicate member, who, again, agreed.
"At that stage you were panicked and you were trying to find someone to bring this cocaine-laden vessel back into the country.
"Someone to take the risk for you."
Whether or not Mr Lembke knew about the drugs on board is the key issue during his trial in Newcastle District Court, as is the question of when he knew he was to be paid $500,000 for sailing the 13-metre Skarabej from Tahiti to Lake Macquarie.
And on Thursday, under questioning from Mr Krisenthal, the syndicate member gave evidence that he did not mention the $500,000 fee at that meeting with Mr Lembke on September 30, 2017, a change in his evidence from earlier in the trial.
Mr Krisenthal suggested to the syndicate member that he lied when he gave evidence earlier in the trial about the $500,000 being mentioned at that meeting because he "felt constrained to adopt what he told police" in an interview after his arrest and was trying to get "as much of a discount as possible". The trial continues.
IN THE NEWS:
- Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes says managers' emails about staff redeployment 'unacceptable'
- Throwback Thursday: Relive the best moments from Dashville Skyline
- Cocaine catamaran trial: Sailor and musician Craig Lembke 'angry' about cocaine on board, court hears
- Victims say it's time for a UK-style inquiry into the Australian tainted blood scandal
- Lockout laws: New research shows Newcastle's night economy performing better than most
- Hunter MPs back NSW government plan for cameras to identify drivers using mobile phones
- Newcastle house prices up as interest rates fall to new record low after Reserve Bank announces cut
