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Crown completes case in drugs conspiracy trial
The Crown completed its case yesterday?on day 18 of the trial of five men arrested as part of the Operation Granite drugs conspiracy trial, and the single defence witness was heard in half an hour.
The Crown?s closing address to the jury in the High Court trial will be heard today, and the defence closings will be heard on Thursday and Friday. Justice Christian Whata is expected to sum up for the jury of 11 on Monday.
The trial arises from police raids on June 9, 2010, with searches of 13 properties in Christchurch, Lyttelton, and Ashburton, at the end of their surveillance investigation.
Five?went on trial?denying a total of 22 charges of conspiring to make and supply the class A drug methamphetamine, manufacturing the drug, possession of chemicals and equipment, and in two cases, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
After the Crown ended its case, Michael Leslie Smith, a 36-year-old mechanic, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of a semi-automatic cut-down rifle ? one of two Arms Act charges he faces.
Smith?s mother, Marilyn May Smith, then gave evidence and produced family photographs showing her son?s life-long interest in hunting. He had got his first gun at the age of two, and had gone out hunting with his uncle, she said.
