This week in Illawarra courts saw significant developments in several criminal cases. Among the most notable were the sentencing of a mother-daughter drug-dealing duo and a man sentenced for violent assaults against his partner.

Lida Milenkovska, 58, and her daughter Kristine Krkovska, 23, were sentenced for their involvement in drug trafficking. The pair operated from their home in Warrawong, where they sold illicit drugs to street-level users. Over approximately 11 weeks, Milenkovska received $100,000 worth of heroin for distribution, while Krkovska procured around $60,000 of methamphetamine.

In another case, Cody McDonald, 34, was sentenced to more than three years in prison for choking his partner and threatening to kill her and her young child. The violence escalated after the victim confronted McDonald about suspected infidelity and asked him to leave her home.

Samuel Hollis was also in court this week. He was found with chemicals capable of producing over 90 kilograms of methamphetamine and MDMA. At the time of his arrest in late April 2024, Hollis was $15,000 in debt and struggling with a cocaine addiction. He had been hired to make a delivery in a rental truck from Albion Park Rail to Tweed Heads, which was stopped by police.

Jarred Robert Short, accused of shooting at a man in Woonona, sought bail this week. His lawyer argued that the evidence against him was weak. Short was arrested a week after the incident, which occurred on May 17 on Cotterill Avenue.

Additionally, Gareth Ward, a former Kiama MP and convicted rapist, dropped his defamation case against a Sydney radio station. The case was scheduled for a directions hearing but was dismissed by mutual consent on Wednesday afternoon.