Smith’s son guilty on drug charge
SALISBURY, March 21
A Magistrate will pass sentence on Friday on the son of the Prime Minister (Mr lan Smith). Smith, jnr, pleaded guilty today to illegal possession of almost half a pound of dagga (marijuana). Defence counsel said that Mr Smith associated himself with a written statement submitted to the Court by his
wife Janet, describing, Alexander, aged 22, as a “decent and honest person.” The Prime Minister had not signed the statement, counsel said, because he felt “it would be perhaps wrong in view of his position to try to influence the Court in any
way.” t . . Smith said that he had bought the dagga from an African while on holiday in Malawi. “I feel 1 have been very stupid,” he said. “I regret the fact that I have abused the law in this way. I am very sorry about it and do not intend to do it agam.” His counsel told the Magistrate that Smith was “not a hippie type” and criminal conviction would have very serious results. He added ha will suffer far greater than the normal person in this situation.” Smith is not in custody.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19720323.2.110
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32873, 23 March 1972, Page 13
Word Count
196Smith’s son guilty on drug charge Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32873, 23 March 1972, Page 13
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.