Millie Elder relieved drug saga at end

Millie Elder. Photo / Janna Dixon

A smiling Millie Elder left court yesterday after police dropped three serious drug charges against her.

The estranged daughter of broadcaster Paul Holmes was facing charges including possession of methamphetamine - also known as P, two charges of possessing ecstasy (class B) and one charge of receiving stolen property.

Her lawyer, Jesse Soondram, said his client was relieved the saga had been brought to a close.

He said police had targeted his client for "good publicity" and he had filed an application for police to pay her legal costs.

"I hope they ease off," Mr Soondram said.

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said no such applications had been filed in court.

The charges against Ms Elder were dropped in the Auckland District Court after the officer in charge of the case met with lawyers for Ms Elder and her partner Connor Morris.

Ms Hegarty said Mr Soondram was not part of the negotiations.

Mr Soondram said he would have challenged the police search warrant if the charges against Ms Elder had not been withdrawn.

"There was not sufficient evidence to grant a warrant in the first place," he said.

"My view is that if police charge someone they should be in a position to prove that charge and they should have the evidence before they go ahead and charge people.

"It has always been back to front, they charge someone with everything they can and then scramble the evidence together afterwards," he said.

Ms Hegarty said Mr Soondram had 14 months to raise issues about the search warrant but did not do so.

"There's never been any question of the efficiency or deficiency of the search warrant," Ms Hegarty said.

She said the presence of methamphetamine had been found by police.

"It is just a matter of who was in possession of it. If someone puts their hand up, who are we to question?" Ms Hegarty said.

Mr Soondram said his client had been on bail now for a long time and the subject of unwanted media attention.

Ms Elder also had charges of possessing methamphetamine and cannabis and a shoplifting charge dropped in the Waitakere District Court on Tuesday.

Two charges against her partner, Connor Morris, were also withdrawn in court yesterday.

Police prosecutor Teresa Paul told the Auckland District Court that all four charges against Ms Elder would be dropped if Morris pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of methamphetamine and receiving a $3000 stolen laptop computer.

Morris admitted the charges and was sentenced to 175 hours of community work by Judge Ian McHardy.

"It is disappointing you have got yourself involved in this type of criminal behaviour," Judge McHardy told him.

He said the court views possession of methamphetamine and receiving stolen property as serious charges.

Ms Elder now faces one charge of driving while suspended.

- NZ HERALD STAFF