Smuggling case adjourned
NZPA London' The case against a New Zealand man accused of involvement in major cocaine smuggling has been adjourned to today after a day of intense legal argument during which the accused changed his plea twice. He is William Paul Haslett, aged 25, of Wellington — al qualified lawyer although not a practising one — who: is one of three New Zea-j landers accused of involvement in smuggling; about §200,000 worth of 80-: livian cocaine into Britain. 1
When pleas were taken [ from the three men last ; r Wednesday, Haslett denied the charge, but after more i than two hours of discussion in chambers on Friday be- ! 7 tween prosecution and : defence counsel, and Judge ; IH. E. L. Mendl, the plea was changed to guilty. When the hearing resumed i! in open court on Friday 1 i afternoon, the formal charge — which includes the words ■ . . . “was knowingly con-; i cerned in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on! [the importation of controlled!) 'drugs . .” — was subject']
to intricate three-way legal argument between Judge Mendl, defence counsel (Mr Michel Kallipetis) and prosecuting counsel (Mr Evan Stone). After a further brief adjournment, Mr Stone told the Court the prosecution would prepare a further co’-nt against Haslett during the week-end, concerned with the possession of cocaine rather than its importation. At that stage, Haslett was i given permission to change [his plea back to one of not 'guilty
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Press, 26 June 1978, Page 2
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235Smuggling case adjourned Press, 26 June 1978, Page 2
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