LSD imports alleged

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32677, 5 August 1971, Page 2

LSD imports alleged

(New Zealand Press Association) "Wi DUNEDIN, August 4. A 25-year-old man, who described himself as a retired aircraft engineer, faced charges of importing LSD and selling some of the drug to a buyer in Christchurch, when he appeared before Mr T. A. Ross, S.M., in the Dunedin Magistrate’s Court today.

John Charles Smith entered no plea to charges of importing 2000 flakes of lysergide (LSD) between July 1 and August 4 and of supplying Julian Rose Picard with lysergide at Christchurch on December 23 last year.

After a strong plea by his counsel (Mr M. J. Knuckey) for bail, Smith was remanded in custody until tomorrow morning.

Detective Senior-Sergeant D. W. B. Warner said the police strongly objected to bail because the defendant had contacts in another country, travelled frequently, and had the means to travel.

Initially Mr Warner requested a remand until next Thursday after Mr Knuckey said that he had seen his client only briefly and was in no position to enter a plea. Applying for bail, counsel said that Smith was married, resided locally, and would be able to report to the Dunedin C. 1.8. daily. He said the defendant had contacts overseas because he had worked in the United States for two years.

The magistrate said he would make the initial remand short so that he could hear a more detailed application for bail tomorrow.

Mr Warner said the police had not completed their inquiries and that more charges might be laid.