September 28, 2011

Police oppose bail for three after drugs bust

By David Clarkson at the Rangiora Court House

Police opposed bail for three people charged after a suspected clandestine methamphetamine laboratory was found next to a Casebrook playground.

Two of the three remained in custody after their court appearances.

The trio were taken to the Christchurch District Court sitting at the Rangiora Court House soon after their arrest today at a Larch Place address.

They were all jointly charged with possession of chemicals and equipment ? including a hotplate, condenser, and pyrex glassware ? capable of being used to manufacture the class A drug methamphetamine.

Detective Sergeant Dorothy McPhail said she had real concerns about the location of the alleged lab which was in a house next to a children's playground.?

"Not only were those in the house where the lab was found at high risk, as well as neighbouring homes, but the children from the neighbourhood using the playground were also potentially at risk should there have been an explosion," she said. ?

Police prosecutor Sergeant Jeff Kay told the court the material found in the house was now being analysed by the Environmental Science and Research department and other charges might eventually be laid.

Anthony James Brooking, a 40-year-old labourer, of Woolston, made no application for bail and was remanded in custody to appear at the court session inside Christchurch Men?s Prison on Thursday next week.

Peter John Gason, an unemployed 47-year-old from Casebrook, was remanded in custody until tomorrow (subs: Thursday) at Rangiora to provide an address which could be checked by the police ahead of a bail application.

Jacqueline Brown, 20, unemployed, from Aranui, was granted bail for a remand to October 19, to live with her mother, report regularly to the police, abide by a night time curfew, have no involvement with non-prescription drugs, and no contact with her co-accused.

No pleas were entered by any of the three.