Man to go to trial after denying stealing gold-bearing material from mine site near Kalgoorlie-Boulder

A man has denied stealing gold-bearing material from a mine site near Kalgoorlie-Boulder, with the matter to go to trial. Thomas Gibbons appeared in Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on Monday facing four charges including stealing, meth possession, stealing a motor vehicle, and possessing stolen or unlawfully obtained property. The 31-year-old was accused of stealing an unknown amount of gold-bearing material from Northern Star Resources’ Kanowna Belle mine site about 20km north-east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The stealing is alleged to have taken place on March 24, the same day Mr Gibbons is accused of stealing a Toyota LandCruiser from somewhere in the Kanowna area, near Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Mr Gibbons entered formal pleas of not guilty to both charges along with a plea of not guilty to possessing stolen or unlawfully obtained property. He is yet to enter a plea to the charge of methylamphetamine possession alleged to have taken place on April 19 in Lakewood. Expert witnesses are expected to contribute to both the prosecution and the defence case when Mr Gibbons goes to trial. The matter was adjourned to come before the court for trial allocation in November, with the trial expected to take place next year.