NRL star Josh Addo-Carr pleads not guilty to breaking COVID-19 rules during boys Taree farm weekend

NRL star Josh Addo-Carr pleads not guilty to breaking COVID-19 rules during boys weekend away on Latrell Mitchell’s farm

  • Storm player Josh Addo-Carr entered a not guilty pleat Taree local court 
  • The NRL star is accused of breaching COVID-19 social distancing rules 
  • The charge was laid over a boys’ trip to Latrell Mitchell’s farm near Taree in April
  • Addo-Carr did not appear at court as he prepares for NRL grand final

Melbourne Storm player Josh Addo-Carr has entered a not guilty plea to charges of breaching social distancing laws, but did not attend court on Tuesday as he prepares for this weekend’s NRL grand final.

Addo-Carr is accused of breaking COVID-19 protocols during a boys weekend away at the farm of fellow NRL star Latrell Mitchell near Taree in New South Wales in April.

Photos of the trip posted to Instagram showed him shooting a gun, riding dirt bikes and sitting around a fire with another ten men.

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Melbourne Storm player Josh Addo-Carr (picture) is accused of breaking COVID-19 protocols during a trip to fellow NRL star Latrell Mitchell’s farm near Taree in New South Wales in April

The NRL star was a no-show at Taree local court on Tuesday.

His lawyer Elias Tabchouri was forced to explain his client’s absence and enter a plea for him, reported the Mid-North Coast News. 

‘He has the NRL Grand-Final this weekend, so I’d ask that Your Honour would consider that – as it’s his employment,’ Mr Tabchouri told the court.

‘So, I’ll take it he’s not here?’ magistrate Roger Prowse said.

‘Yes, that’s correct Your Honour,’ Mr Tabchouri said.

The 25-year-old entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of failing to comply with ministerial orders relating to COVID-19 movements and social distancing rules. 

Photos posted by Addo-Carr showed the pair with ten other men around a fire, mountain biking (pictured) and shooting guns

Photos posted by Addo-Carr showed the pair with ten other men around a fire, mountain biking (pictured) and shooting guns

The second charge relates to the same trip away where he was filmed firing rounds of a Dickinson brand T1000, 12-gauge single barrel shotgun

The second charge relates to the same trip away where he was filmed firing rounds of a Dickinson brand T1000, 12-gauge single barrel shotgun

The case will be heard on March 5, along with another charge of unauthorised use of a firearm.

The second charge relates to the same trip away where he was filmed firing rounds of a Dickinson brand T1000, 12-gauge single barrel shotgun.   

Addo-Carr will take to the field this weekend as the Melbourne Storm go up against the Penrith Panthers in the NRL Grand Final.

Both Mitchell and Addo-Carr were punished by the NRL for their actions, being fined $50,000 each, with 60 per cent of the fine being suspended.

He will contest his fine and NRL sanctions for breaching travel restrictions

He will contest his fine and NRL sanctions for breaching travel restrictions

Addo-Carr’s legal team pleaded not guilty because they insisted the law on restrictions on gatherings related to public places, not private properties.

He also said his family were going through a tough time so he wanted to take them to the farm to get away.

At the time the New South Wales government said you could not leave your home unless it was for an essential reasons such as care, exercise, going to work or school or collecting essential items such as groceries.

Addo-Carr's legal team insist their client did not break the law as restrictions related to being in a public place, not private properties

Addo-Carr’s legal team insist their client did not break the law as restrictions related to being in a public place, not private properties

Gatherings of more than groups of two were banned.  

In April, despite insisting there had been no wrong doing, Addo-Carr apologised.  

At the time, a repentant Addo-Carr said ‘nothing was intentional or deliberate’ as he tried to ‘put a smile on the faces’ of family members going through a tough time.   

Mitchell pleaded guilty in August to a charge of giving a firearm to an unauthorised person, with sentencing scheduled for November 9.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Josh Addo-Carr for comment.

Meanwhile Latrell will face court for sentencing on November 9, charged with one count of giving a firearm to a person not authorised.

He guilty to the offence on August 4 after surrendering his weapons and gun licence to the Taree police station in the days after the ordeal.