A Downing Centre Local Court magistrate has rejected an application by Andrew O’Keefe to have his latest charges moved to Waverley Local Court.
news.com.au reports O’Keefe, who was not required to attend court today, has less than a month to decide if he will fight allegations he drove with an illicit drug in his system.
He faces a single charge of driving with an illicit drug present in his blood. He was charged by NSW Police in August after officers allege he was driving with the drug in his system in Darlinghurst on April 14.
Solicitor Jahan Kalantar noted he had had some difficulty in getting instructions about the most recent allegations. But Magistrate Greg Gogin rejected an application to move the case to Waverley Local Court.
The court was told Mr Kalantar was preparing a mental health application, likely to be Section 14 whereby an accused can avoid punishment due to their mental culpability.
O’Keefe is also facing allegations he intimidated a man in Point Piper on July 28 and breaching an AVO. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and will return to court later this week.
Recent media reports suggest O’Keefe’s family are in discussions for him to return to Connect Global rehab facility at Port Stephens.
“Andrew is welcome back here, but he has to make up his own mind to return,” said Pastor Pene who set up the centre in 2011. It has a 90 percent success rate for non-reoffending.
O’Keefe must enter a plea to the driving charge when he returnes to court on October 30.
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